The Hindu : Kerala News : Widespread cultivation of ganja in Silent Valley buffer zone

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 09, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Widespread cultivation of ganja in Silent Valley buffer zone

By G. Prabhakaran

PALAKKAD, JAN 8. The recent raids conducted by Forest, Excise and Police departments on the ganja (Cannabis sativa) plantations in the buzzer zone of the Silent Valley National Park and the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary make shocking revelations about the widespread cultivation of this killer drug by destroying hundreds of acres of evergreen forests.

Ganja is cultivated not only in the Silent Valley buzzer zone but even inside the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. At the Oorukumban Range between Nelliampathy forests and the Parambikulam Sanctuary, the Forest Department destroyed one such plantation.

But according to the tribals in the area, four more such plantations are still found there. Widespread ganja cultivation is taking place in the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary this year, says Tony Thomas, Director of `One Earth One Life,' a voluntary organisation engaged in the protection of forest.

He says that in the Ankinda forest area, the second highest peak in Kerala after Anamudi in Munnar, there are reports of ganja cultivation. Ankinda borders with the Silent Valley National Park. His organisation had informed the Forest Department about the widespread cultivation of ganja in the border areas and the buffer zone of the Silent Valley National Park, Mr. Thomas says.

Raids

In the Nilambur South and North Divisions, particularly in the New Amaramblam area, which was recommended to be included in the core area of the Silent Valley National Park, large tracts are cleared and ganja cultivated, he says.

In just one raid alone in the Attappady range, the buzzer zone of Silent Valley and the core area of Nilgiri Biosphere, the Forest Department destroyed ganja plants worth Rs.14 crores in the international market.

During the raid conducted between December 16 and 18, 2004, the officials from the Mannarkkad Forest Division destroyed 14,378 ganja plants from an area of 6.25 acres in Chenthamala and Kullad Mala areas under Pudur Forest Station in the Attappady Range.

In the Attappady Range, an important area of the Silent Valley buffer zone, there are widespread cultivation of ganja in Galazi, Sispara, Male Bhoothar, Thaze Bhoothar, Anavai, Thudukki etc. There are also reports of ganja cultivation in Nemmara and Walayar forests in the district.

It is ganja harvesting time in the forest areas of the district particularly Attappadi Hills.

Main centre

This money spinning prohibited plant is cultivated clearing large areas of evergreen forests. Ganja harvesting started in November and ends in January. Though this narcotic plant was introduced to the evergreen tropical forests of certain Western Ghat areas like Idukki long back, it is only recently the forest areas of Palakkad district became the main centre of ganja cultivation.

This big money business is run by powerful inter-State mafias who cultivate ganja in the neighbouring forests of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. There were reports of destruction of ganja plants in the forests of these two States also.

The best quality `Neelachadayan' and `Tapasi' are cultivated in Attappady and other forest areas which are blessed with the best climate and enough water.

There are three types of ganja cultivation in Attappady Hills. One is inside the Reserve Forests in remote and inaccessible areas on the Nilgiri side. Here modern techniques of cultivation are used. Motors and sprinklers are used for irrigating the plants raised in nurseries first.

Laxity of officials

Since the area is infested with wild animals and has most inaccessible terrain, ganja cultivators are safe here. One has to walk at least 20 to 30 kilometers through the thick forests to reach spots like Anavai, Sispara, Ankinda, Galazi, Thudukki etc. Except ganja cultivators and poachers, nobody dares to venture into these areas for fear of life.

The other method used for ganja cultivation in Attappady is cultivating it in the agriculture land adjacent to the tribal hamlets. The third method is planting it along with other crops like cotton, maize etc., by the tribals.

Mr. Tony Thomas says that the laxity on the part of the Forest authorities to conduct effective raids has resulted in the widespread cultivation of ganja in the buzzer zones of Silent Valley and inside the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.

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