Chinnakkanal human-elephant issue man-made, says Keralam Forest Minister

The human-elephant conflict in Chinnakkanal is a man-made issue, according to Keralam Forest Minister Shibu Baby John, who highlighted the settlement's location during his inauguration of the State-Level Wildlife Week celebrations at Thekkady on Monday. The minister claimed that the 301 Colony was established in Chinnakkanal based on a Forest department proposal, despite initial opposition from then Munnar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Prakriti Srivastava.

While the government began the project in 2002-2003, the minister contended that the conflict persisted due to the subsequent establishment of resorts, such as those owned by Sterling and Mahindra, along the designated elephant corridor. The Minister emphasized the need for cooperation between farmers and the Forest department to address the issue, suggesting that removing obstructive fences and planting certain crops could help mitigate the problem.

Srivastava, however, disputed the Minister's claims, stating that she had previously written to the government expressing concerns about human settlement in the Anayirankal dam area and had recommended relocating the 301 Colony under the Navakiranam scheme.