IDUKKI: As part of resolving the deadlock over fixing the boundaries of the Kurinjimala sanctuary, which was announced a decade ago, the Cabinet sub-committee comprising Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan, Forest Minister K Raju and Power Minister M M Mani, on Monday visited the areas proposed for the sanctuary to take stock of the situation.
The ministerial team accompanied by the officers concerned met the residents in block number 58 and 62 of Kottakkamboor and Vattavada villages, especially in Vattavada, Koviloor and Kadavary and heard their grievances. While interacting with the residents at Kadavary community hall, Chandrasekharan assured the public none of the residents, having valid documents for the land will be evicted from their property. Nonetheless, he sought their cooperation in completing the document verification process undertaken by Revenue officers to fix the sanctuary’s boundaries.
“We are convinced about the residential areas here. People having valid documents for their land will not be evicted from here. However, the Revenue authorities need your cooperation to find out bogus claims if any. The officers have to conduct a resurvey for the same and the people should not consider them as enemies,” Chandrasekaharan said.After setting off from Munnar around 10 am, the ministerial team went up till the Tamil Nadu border at Kadavary where a border stone had been installed during the reign of the erstwhile Travancore Royals. Even as the delegation made an on the spot assessment, the people registered their protests and submitted petitions to the ministers at various places, including Vattavada, Koviloor, and Kadavary.
Former MLA and Congress leader A K Mani voiced the demands of the public at the meeting held at Kadavary. According to him, the visiting ministers should allay the settlers’ concerns regarding the Kurinjimala sanctuary. “The farmers are ready to let go of any government land under their custody. However, a survey must be conducted to allay their concerns,” he said.
A K Mani also urged the delegation to grant permission to the farmers to cut down the trees they had planted on their land. “ The farmers are the owners of the trees planted on their property and they should be allowed to reap the benefits as well. Unless the Eucalyptus Grandis trees on their land are felled, they will not be able to commence farming activities there,” he said.
Electricity Minister M M Mani being welcomed with a garland of carrots, while Forest Minister K Raju garlands Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan with vegetables during their visit to Neelakurinji sanctuary
in Idukki | VINCENT PULICKAL
Meeting with people’s reps
The Cabinet sub-committee on Tuesday will meet the people’s representatives to get their version as well. “The protection of the sanctuary as well as allaying the concerns of the settlers are the government’s responsibility . A decision will be taken at the government-level based on the data collated from our visit, discussions with the people’s representatives and legal issues,” Chandrasekharan told reporters in Munnar. Earlier, the ministerial team convened a meeting at the Munnar Guest House in the morning which was also attended by Devikulam Sub-Collector V R Prem Kumar.