Idukki Collector orders removal of unauthorised barriers obstructing wildlife movement
Order directs Local Self-Government, Revenue, Forest, and Survey departments to locate and demolish fences, walls, and structures built without clearance along forest boundaries
Following a surge in fatal encounters between humans and wild animals in Idukki district, Kerala, District Collector Dinesan Cheruvattu has issued an order mandating the removal of unauthorized barriers obstructing wildlife passages. District Forest Officer Munnar DFO is tasked with identifying such illegal fences and initiating the required actions.
The order instructs Local Self-Government Department, Revenue, Forest, and Survey departments to locate and demolish fences, walls, and structures constructed without permits along forest limits. Deputies from the Devikulam Sub-Collector, Munnar DFO, LSGD Joint Director, and Survey Director have been assigned to eliminate structures disrupting wildlife movement.
On Thursday, forest officials commenced dismantling illegally erected solar fences at Panthadikkalam within the Devikulam forest range. However, this directive has elicited strong opposition from farmer associations and the Idukki Diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, who demand its immediate reversal. Fr. Jins Karakkatt, head of the Idukki Diocese Media Commission, denounced the decision as "inhumane," stating that farmers erect barriers to protect their lives, properties, and farmland.
Removal of these barriers would allow wild animals unrestricted access to human settlements. Similarly, Mathew Varghese, State Vice President of All India Kisan Sabha, criticized the order, claiming it implies residents must be displaced to permit wildlife movement into residential areas. The administration's perspective, clarified by High Range Circle Chief Conservator of Forests D. K. Vinod Kumar, is that the department only aims to remove encroachments on government land.
The Forest department has neither suggested nor initiated the removal of fences from private farmlands; action is being taken exclusively against illegal encroachments and fencing across designated elephant corridors on revenue and forest land, he affirmed. Rumors suggesting the demolition of farmers' fences are entirely unfounded.
Officials emphasized that the district administration has intensified measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict following four deaths due to wild elephant attacks within a four-month period, including a recent incident where tribal farmer Vijayan (47) was trampled by a tusker named Chakkakompan on Wednesday morning.
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