IDUKKI:If one has to wait for 12 years for the ‘Neelakurinji’ (Strobilanthus kunthianus) to bloom, the wait for the formation of a sanctuary for protecting these flowers in Kottakamboor and Vattavada villages of Devikulam Taluk in the District has crossed 11 years after the notification.
However, with the cancellation of titles of 28 acres under the possession of Idukki MP Joice George and family in Block No 58 of Kottakamboor - a major hurdle to establish the Kurinji Sanctuary notified on October 6, 2006 - has seemingly been cleared.
According to the minutes of a meeting on March 27, 2017, chaired by the Chief Minister to discuss the problems related to the use of the land in the district, “to resolve the issues with the area of the sanctuary as per the preliminary notification on October 6, 2006, its boundary has to be redefined for the final declaration in an area around 3,200 hectares excluding Block No 58 of Kottakamboor village and Block No 62 of Vattavada village, as it consists of human settlement, titled land, farms, estates, commercial establishments, government and semi government institutions, educational institutions, hospitals, places of worship and crematoriums.”
However, those who fight against the ‘land mafia’ consider the demand ‘for redefining the sanctuary’s boundaries’ as weird with a malicious intention. “There are a group of real farmers in Block No 62 of Vattavada Village,” Bijo Mani, president, Youth Congress Idukki Lok Sabha Committee, told Express. He had filed a complaint with the Sub-Collector to verify the records of properties in Block No 58 to find out the fake titles and attach those properties.
“Anyone with a valid title is free to approach the Devikulam Sub-collector, who is the settlement officer, to keep their land out of the sanctuary. However, some anti-social elements are misguiding the local people and forcing them to agitate whenever there is a demand for examination of documents. The encroachers used to instill fear among the settlers that the government was trying to usurp their land under the pretext of the sanctuary. The latest developments related to the cancellation of titles of 28 acres of land in Kottakamboor reveals the forces behind the protest against Revenue Officials,” he said.
The area, including Block No 58 of Kottakamboor with 1,983 hectares, was notified as the only sanctuary of its kind in south India to ensure the long-term conservation of a vast stretch of ‘Kurinji’ habitat spread across 3,200 hectares at the high altitude rolling grasslands and shola forests of the southern Western Ghats.
According to activists, once it blooms, the purplish blue colour of Neelakurinji flowers will differentiate the area of the sanctuary. “The cancellation of titles of 28 acres in Block 58 of Kottakamboor will give an impetus to the final notification of the area as a sanctuary. When Kurinji blooms in May-June, 2018, it will help to distinguish between the Kurinji Sanctuary and the rest of the forest area,” said Raj Kumar, coordinator, Save Kurinji Campaign.
However, a major fire at Jandapara in Kottakamboor village away from human settlements nearly t two months ago had destroyed about 300 acres of grasslands with Neelakurinji. It was alleged the land mafia which has encroached government land and cultivated grandis there set fire to the area with an aim to keep it out of the sanctuary when the final notification is issued.