The collector said the instruction issued to plantation inspectors in Munnar, Peermade and Udumbanchola on Sept 28 was intended only to advise the public against entering plantations adjoining forest areas from 6pm to 6am
The collector said the instruction issued to plantation inspectors in Munnar, Peermade and Udumbanchola on Sept 28 was intended only to advise the public against entering plantations adjoining forest areas from 6pm to 6am. Farmers’ organisations said that 90% of the plantations are located along forest boundaries and that restrictions on entry during night hours could affect a large section of the population, including plantation workers. The collector said 81 people had been killed and 486 injured in human-wildlife conflict incidents in Idukki over the past 10 years.
Wildlife presence has also been reported from areas outside notified forests, including shrublands, eucalyptus and pine plantations and locations such as Mattupetty and Ikkanagar. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news.
He said the objective was to reduce the risk of encounters with wild animals that may remain hidden in plantations during night-time and periods of poor visibility. He also clarified that no restrictions had been imposed on public transport. CPM, BJP, Kerala Congress(M), Idukki diocese and various farmers’ organisations opposed what they described as restrictions that could affect the normal life of people in the district. Protest programmes, including a march to the collectorate, were also organised. The collector subsequently clarified that the instruction was specifically aimed at plantations located close to forest areas. The public has been advised to follow warnings issued during red and orange alerts and specific instructions issued by the forest department and rapid response teams when wild animals enter inhabited areas. Eucalyptus and pine plantations and shrub-covered areas in Munnar and Peermade are also frequented by wild animals. Residents say elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, gaurs and wild boars regularly move from such areas towards human settlements. Organisations have demanded that safety measures in plantations should be practical and should not interfere with the normal movement and livelihood of residents. Tourism promoters at destinations including Munnar and Peermade also expressed concern that such restrictions could affect visitors’ movement, employees travelling to and from hotels and resorts, and night-time transport services. Critics argued that safety advisories should be targeted at specific wildlife-prone locations rather than being interpreted as a general district-wide restriction. Download the TOI App.
Idukki : Following protests by various political parties, church and farmers’ organisations over the alleged misinterpretation of his letter advising against the use of plantations in forest-fringe areas of Idukki from 6pm to 6am, in view of rising human-animal conflicts, district collector Dinesan Cheruvatt issued a clarification on Thursday, stating that night travel had not been banned in the hill district.