The Hindu : Kerala News : State to take up border issue

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Sunday, May 01, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

State to take up border issue

Staff Reporter

Report on encroachment of forest land

PALAKKAD: The Forest and Water Resources Minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, has said that the Kerala Government will take the issue of encroachment of State's forest land up with the Tamil Nadu Government.

There were reports of encroachment of the State's forest land at Anakatti and Kinnakara areas of Attappady Hills by the Tamil Nadu side.

Talking to presspersons at Mulli in Attappady after a visit to the border areas on Friday, the Minister said that these encroachments might have not taken place with the knowledge of the Tamil Nadu Government but at the lower official level. There was no proper demarcation of the borders between the two States here. So the Kerala Government would urge the Tamil Nadu authorities to conduct a joint survey to solve the problem of dispute on State borders.

He said that though there are some encroachment of the State's forest areas at Anakatti and Kinnakara, the issue should not be blown out of proportion to create unnecessary discord with our neighbouring State.

He said that the State Forest Secretary would be asked to submit a report on the encroachment of forest and the problem of the absence of proper marking of the boundary in certain parts like Mulli in Attappady Hills within a period of six months.

The Minister held discussions with the officials and people's representatives at the Sholayur panchayat office before visiting Mulli and other areas.

Those who participated in the discussion included Kalathil Abdulla, MLA, the Sub-Collector of Ottapalam, Dinesh Arora, the Conservator of Forest, Amarnath Shetty, among others.

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