The Kerala government has rejected allegations that the removal of unauthorised fences in Idukki’s Chinnakanal is intended to convert Cardamom Hill Reserve land into forest, saying the action is aimed at addressing encroachments and protecting residents from wildlife attacks.
Chief minister V D Satheesan told the Kerala Assembly that the government had no plan to convert Cardamom Hill Reserve land into forest land. His statement came during a heated debate over an order issued by the Idukki district collector to remove unauthorised fences and constructions in areas frequented by wild animals.
Forest minister Shibu Baby John defended the collector’s order, saying it followed the death of a tribal youth in a recent elephant attack. He said residents had themselves demanded the removal of the fences after the incident and that unauthorised constructions had subsequently been identified.
John said the order was intended to protect human lives and was not aimed at taking over inhabited areas. Revenue minister A P Anil Kumar also said the government’s action was focused on safeguarding residents. He pointed out that the initial demand for fence removal had come from a panchayat president belonging to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), according to the Assembly debate reported by the Times of India.
The order has drawn opposition from residents, political leaders and the Idukki diocese, who have raised concerns over the effect on farmers and people living in plantation areas. CPM MLA K U Janeesh Kumar accused the government of unleashing a “forest raj” and alleged that the order could be used to demolish fences in inhabited areas and weaken farmers’ land rights.
Janeesh Kumar also said all seven elephant corridors in Kerala remained open and objected to restrictions on people’s movement between 6pm and 6am, including a ban on night travel in plantation areas. He demanded that the collector’s order be withdrawn and alleged that the measures could be used to take over land under the guise of protecting elephant corridors.
Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan said the government had not provided adequate answers to the concerns raised in the House. He alleged that fence removal was being used as a pretext to take over inhabited areas and demanded transparency in implementing the order. The opposition staged a walkout after permission for an adjournment motion on the issue was denied.
The debate also became confrontational after the forest minister responded sharply to criticism from the opposition benches. Vijayan accused the minister of insulting the opposition and said the legislator who moved the adjournment motion was being personally attacked instead of receiving a proper response.
The dispute places Chinnakanal’s competing land and safety concerns before the state government: preventing human-wildlife conflict while addressing allegations that enforcement action could affect settled communities and plantation farmers. The government has maintained that the immediate objective is to remove unauthorised structures and reduce risks in locations used by wild animals.
The next stage will depend on how the Idukki district collector’s order is implemented and whether the government provides further clarity on the areas covered, the treatment of inhabited properties and restrictions on movement in plantation zones.
