13/11/2019
K. A. Ravi Changappa
Born: 21 March 1960.
Father: Late. K.N. Aiyamma.
Place: Madenadu Village, Madikeri Taluk, Kodagu.
Spouse: Still Bachelor
Nationality: Indian
Alma mater: PUC – Sheshadripuram collage, Bangalore. FMKMC – Madikeri.
Occupation: RTI Activist / Environmentalist / Agriculturist
Organization: Cauvery Sene, Convener and Founder Member since 2004. KODAGU
Personality Brief:
Mr. Ravi Changappa K.A., is a Founder Member and Convener of CAUVERY SENE – KODAGU since 27th Feb 2004.
Mr. Ravi Changappa K.A. , aged about 54 years is a S/O Late. KN Aiyamma and a permanent resident of Madenad Village, Madikari Taluk, Kodagu. His mother Mrs. Kamavva (thaamane Shivachaliyanda) lives with him. His 3 brothers and 2 sisters are married and settled respectively with their spouse and kids.
Vision Statement:
To protect the River Cauvery, its Catchments Area and to protect the Rich Heritage of Forest and its land in KODAGU. It is a known fact that, Kodagu and River Cauvery Protect and serve more than 1 million People directly and more than few lakh people indirectly across Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Kerala and in Pondicherry.
Some of the Achievements of Mr. Ravi Changappa K.A,
1. Fought aggressively against the Timber Mafia, Illegal Tree Felling, Sand Mafia, Granite / Quarry Mafia since a decade and still continues his fight against the unplanned development in Kodagu.
2. Worked closely with the Government Department heads to put a curb on rampant Corruption in Government Departments such as RTO office, all Civil Hospitals in Kodagu.
3. Janatha Darshana was introduced at the Taluk Office at Virajpet, Madikery and Somwarpet which was very popular and taken well by the Departments and People of Kodagu.
4. Organized Blood Donation Camps to create Awareness
5. Introduced Cleanliness Drive called Clean Thala Cauvery and Bhagmandala and donated Dustbins to the Temple Administration. In the year 2010-2011- taken up projects to clean all the plastic waste in the birth place of river Cauvery and still continue with it.
6. Donated Books to the libraries of various schools for the benefit of the students.
7. Donated Computers to various schools for the benefit of the students.
8. Conducted many awareness campaigns at Mysore, Bangalore and Kodagu for the benefits of the people to educate about the importance of River Cauvery and the importance of the Forests in Kodagu, Sakleshpur, Chickmagaloor and Wayand.
9. Worked with Corporation Bank, Madikeri for unearthing a fraud case to the tune of 9 Crore the case is in the court.
10. Works closely with the people of River Cauvery Catchment area.
11. Padayatra was conducted to stop the proposed construction of helipad in talacauvery, on top of Bramahagiri hills
12. Fought aggressively against the illegal hotel and resorts which have come up in Kodagu without proper documentation and sewerage treatment plants.
13. Works Closely with the various Panchyaths on dos and don’t s of environment before clearing any projects.
14. He is also President of District Contractors Association and he educates the contractors on the quality and quantity of the public work. Since then any public work is taken little seriously by the contractors.
BIG FIGHTS
Mini Hydro Projects
Fighting Since 2004 against many Mini Hydro Projects which are coming up in many parts of KODAGU and to protect the interests and lively hoods of many people in and around Kodagu.
1. Bara Pole Dam: Actively involved in street protest to stop the mini hydro project, which would have caused damage and submersion of several fertile land and forest area in south Kodagu- 2004-2006.
2. Abbi falls- Protested (during the year 2005 – 2007) 48 days day and night at the falls area against the hydro project to retain the original status of the falls and further destruction and it was stopped.
3. Soorlabbi Falls: Fighting since 2006.
4. Jodupala – Fighting since 2006.
5. Bheemanagundi at Gharwale (2006) – was stopped to ensure that there is water balance in Coorg and to avoid the loss of forest and fertile land.
6. Karike – Fought and compelled to tune down the tree cutting. A case was filed to protect the environment and to stop the project, case is pending in the court.
Granite / Stone – Quarry
Fighting Since 2004 against many Granite / Stone – Quarry which are coming up in many parts of KODAGU and to protect the forests and to avoid the man animal Conflicts.
1. Quarry at Somwarpet Taluk which was being operated illegally on a forest land, brought this to the departments notice and fighting a legal battle since 2005.
2. Precious and Semi Precious Stone Quarry at Bagamandala during the year 2006, brought this to the concerned departments notice and as of now the mining is banned since 2008. Filed an application in the court to stop mining of semi-precious stones which was situated at Tavoor village in Bhagamandala limits. The geological department has estimated the value of these reserve as Rs. 5000 Crores
3. Nangala Quarry – helped the villagers to shut down the quarry during 2009 by legal fight.
4. Siddapur - Bamboo plantation was carried out in survey no 1/10, where illegal granite mining was done in 2006-2007 in the presence of DFO Mr. Range gouda, the illegal mining was stopped.
5. Various other small and medium quarry were stopped which ever were being operated near to the reserve forest area with the help of the villagers at Ponnampet taluk , dodakalur / chikakalur village.
Timber Mafia / Excessive Tree Felling
1. 400 KV High Tension Power Line – fighting since 2006 to till date as more than the claimed trees by the company are going to be cut and there is no clarity on the project. 38 days day and night protest against the high tension wire which is a proposed line from coorg to kerala against the felling of tress. This protest is going on since 2006 onwards.
2. 5000 saplings was planted in the forest where excessive tress was cut for high tension wire route during June 052014.
3. Got stay order against the illegal tree felling in Tala Cauvery wildlife / Pattikadu Reserve forest enclosures and case was filed against the DFO, to prevent felling of 20,000 trees. Currently it is in the NGT court.
4. Estimated trees saved since 2004 is more than a lakh including big, small and medium size trees. This is a expert opinion.
5. Became a nightmare to the timber smugglers in and around Kodagu. People inform Mr. Ravi Changappa before calling the forest departments to ensure they are caught and the justice is done to the Mother Nature and River Cauvery.
6. Helped the district administration to recover 40 cores worth trees the case is in the court.
Sand Mining
1. Fought day and night and helped the officials to nab the unauthorized Sand Mining thus bringing the sand mining to a stop at Kongana and lakshmana theertha. The Sand mining now has been stopped since then.
2. Compelled the district administration to bring in a solution on sand mining.
3. Illegal sand mining in lakshmanteertha was stopped and got stay order from court to ensure the flow of water.
Appreciation and Credentials
Delegates from 2 different countries who had come to study about his endeavors have come forward to write a book on his social fight. (The name of the country and the name of the delegation can’t be disclosed due to a non disclosure Agrement)
2 universities in India have also come forward to write a book based on the fights of Cauvery Sene. They claim that protecting the interests of more than a million is not an easy task. (The name of the university is also withheld due to signing of non disclosure Agreement)
Various Sangha and Samsthe, Various Sports Clubs, Plantations Clubs, Various Raitha Sangas, Gowda Samajas, Hindu, Muslim and Christian Religious Leaders, Various Kodava Samajas at Kodagu, at Mysore and Bangalore have honored him for his exceptional contribution towards Mankind and Enviornment.
It is estimated that he has helped protect nearly 2 lakh trees and still counting.
As a non political party leader and as an individual environmentalist he has given more than 1200 press meets so far including in Bangalore and Mysore which are only restricted to environment and safety of people.
He has conducted more than 50 protests while fasting and more than 100 overnight protests including countless lightning protests.
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