Koragas protest in Brahmavar against attempts to take over their traditional land

Koraga families from Garikematha and Achalady villages in Udupi district staged a protest in front of the Brahmavar tahsildar’s office on December 8 against “some influential groups” attempting to take over the traditional stone-extracting land that they have been working on for decades.

Speaking on the occasion, Sujatha, secretary of the Federation of Koraga Development Associations, said Koraga families have been extracting red laterite stones and residing on Survey Number 145 in Yadthadi village. Some politically connected individuals are now trying to secure the government’s stone-extracting permits to extract stones from the same land. It is because stones extracted from the same land are of high quality. They are now trying to claim ownership of the land and have applied for stone extraction permits. If the government allows it, it would be a grave injustice to the original inhabitants.

Sushila Nada, president of the federation, said an attempt is being made to displace the stone-quarrying Koragas, a Scheduled Tribe community. They will launch an indefinite strike if the government grants an extraction permit to outsiders, she said.

An official of the Department of Mines and Geology who met the protesters told them that the Brahmavar tahsildar has recorded the Koragas’ objections in a report submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, with whom the matter will be discussed.

The official suggested that Koragas submit formal applications for quarrying permits to safeguard their rights. The Koragas later withdrew their protest.