Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Stir over sanctuary notification

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A section of the local population in Vattavada and Kottakambur villages of Idukki district are up in arms against settlement of rights in area notified as Kurinjimala Sanctuary.

The local population has already picketed the office of the Devikulam sub-collector, who has been appointed as settlement officer, and propose to intensify the stir for fear that their lands would be included in the sanctuary.

However, the ‘intention’ notification issued in 2006 had excluded holders of genuine title deeds from the purview of the notification. In fact, the job of the settlement officer is to recognise their rights, an official source said.

Some CPI(M) leaders, however, have lined up local people claiming that large extent of settled area would come under the sanctuary. A prominent local leader of the party is allegedly holding land in the area without proper titles.

Leaders belonging to other political parties too have land in the area, used mainly for cultivation of eucalyptus. Genuine title-holders in the area are mainly engaged in cultivation of vegetables. They had been hit in recent years by large-scale planting of eucalyptus which led to lowering of the water table.

The Office of the Minister for Forests and Housing Benoy Viswom clarified on Thursday that genuine title-holders in the area would not have cause for worry. Land in legal possession of individuals or institutions would not be included in the sanctuary. The concerns of the local people were, hence, unfounded.

An official release issued by his Office recalled that pattaya lands had been excluded from the 3,200 hectares of revenue land notified as sanctuary. The sub-collector had been authorised to enquire and adjudicate on any complaints about inclusion of any area with genuine claimants in the sanctuary. The sub-collector had issued notification on May 9 calling for representations from anyone having rights on the notified area.

The sanctuary was notified with the intention of protecting the neelakurinji plant (Strobilanthes kunthiana) and its habitat, the shola grasslands. Neelakurinji flowers only once in 12 years across the mountain range. The next flowering of the plant in the sanctuary is expected only in 2018.

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