Leased forest land at Athirappilly in Keralam to be surveyed amid disputes over blocking elephant corridor

The leased forest land at Athirappilly in Keralam, owned by the Plantation Corporation, Kerala (PCK), is set to undergo a joint survey by the Forest department and the corporation. This follows a dispute over the lease conditions, obstruction of an elephant corridor, and incidents of human-wildlife conflicts in the project area. The proposed survey comes a decade after the lease agreement for the two-hectare land expired.

The PCK's proposal to renew the lease and expand its land was vehemently opposed by the department. They argued that the holding exceeded the leased boundaries, intruding into a core wildlife habitat. A comprehensive study will be carried out to pinpoint areas of leased forest land crucial for wildlife movement and habitat connectivity, and to propose measures for their conservation and upkeep to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.

The department took objection to alleged breaches of lease conditions, such as employing private agencies for pineapple farming and other activities on the land. They also cited a recent Kerala High Court ruling, which prohibited any sub-leasing, sub-contracting, or dealings with private parties that contravene lease conditions or forest clearance rules.

Divisional Forest Officer, Chalakudy, voiced concerns over the human-wildlife conflict in the resort area, including tiger sightings. The PCK's persistent presence on the forest lease land, blocking of elephant corridors, and ensuing human-wildlife conflicts have drawn criticism from environmentalists as well. The department flagged the fencing operation carried out by the PCK in the leased land, claiming it obstructs elephant passage.

At a recent meeting convened by the State Forest secretary, they decided to map and safeguard the extent of the elephant corridor within the leased area and ensure its maintenance. Any activity within the corridor not aligned with its preservation will be prohibited, and pineapple farming will not be permitted within the elephant corridor.

However, PCK managing director, George Joseph, stated that their resort project is largely confined within the leased area. He informed that private agencies are employed for pineapple farming during the crown replanting process to cover operational and planting expenses.