Call to exclude Nelliampathy from ‘Emerging Kerala’ projects

The Nelliampathy Protection Council has asked the government to abandon its move to include Nelliampathy tourism projects in the ‘Emerging Kerala’ investment meet.

In a statement here the other day, council chairman Dr P S Panicker said that some people were trying to convert the forest land into private initiatives by including it under the ‘Emerging Kerala’ projects.

The granting of permission by the government to set up projects inside the forest, will weaken the government’s cases pending in the Supreme Court. It will also affect the government’s moves to take over the estates which have violated lease conditions, he said.

Under the ‘Emerging Kerala’ investment meet, a resort and a botanical garden have been proposed to be set up in 25 acres of the Agriculture Department’s vegetable and orange farm. But, the Nelliampathy area has been notified as forest since 1906 and a portion of it is also part of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, he said.


“The Forest Protection Act of 1980 and judgments of the High Court and the Supreme Court have categorically stated that Nelliampathy is part of the reserve forests. Therefore, the government should not allow non-forestry activities there,” Dr Panicker said.

Moreover, the Madhav Gadgil committee had also stated that these areas are ecologically fragile. Though the orange and vegetable farm is under the Agriculture Department, it is still a part of the reserve forest and therefore, permission should be obtained from the Union Ministry of Environment & Forests, before any projects are set up, he added.