Kerala - Palakkad   

Tree-felling banned in Nelliampathy, Vandazhi and Muthalamada

Staff Reporter

PALAKKAD: District Collector K. Ajayakumar has issued orders prohibiting felling of trees in Nelliampathy, Vandazhi and Muthalamada panchayat areas in the district.

The order said, "felling of trees from Government leased lands, farm lands and estates either owned by Government or private parties, which lie in the ecologically sensitive Nelliampathy Hills in Nelliampathy, Muthalamada and Vandazhi Panchayats is prohibited with immediate effect. No cutting permit, transportation permit or other documents for transport will be issued by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) or any other officer without prior clearance from the District Collector."

"The Nenmara DFO had informed that there is felling of trees from the private estate `Thampurankadu, alias Ravivarma Estate,' in Nelliampathy Hills. It has also been informed that there are leased estates, puramboke, farmlands, private estates and private farmlands in Nelliampathy Hills supporting good tree growth. Tree felling may take place in other private estates in the ecologically sensitive Nelliampathy Hills. This will adversely affect the environment and ecology."

The order further said, "due to the ecological importance of Nelliampathy Hills which is the place of origin of tributaries of the Bharathapuzha such as the Mangalampuzha, the Gayathripuzha, the Kuriyarkuttypuzha and the Palakapandy stream, the tree felling has to be curbed. The catchments of Pothundy dam, Chulliyar dam and Meenkara dam also fall in these panchayats. The drought-hit Palakkad Gap is adjacent to the Nelliampathy Hill tract and the people of this region are fully dependent on these springs and streams that originate from here.

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