Sunday, May 18, 2003
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Kerala
By K. C. Gopakumar
The Advocate Commissioners appointed by the High Court to investigate into the failure of Kerala Forestry Projects in the high ranges had stumbled upon large-scale encroachments on forest lands in the district. The High Court had recently ordered status quo on the constructions of the temple on a petition filed by the KSEB. The KSEB said that though a temple had existed on the land before the construction of the hydroelectrical project, land had been allotted for relocating the temple in other area. In its report submitted to the court, the team comprising K. T. Sankaran, T. I. Abdul Salam, P. S. Nandanan, P. B. Sahasranamam and A. E. Jose, all High Court lawyers, had pointed out that between Chakkimali and Mullakkanam, they had seen many private holdings. Tea, coffee and miscellaneous fruit trees had been planted. There were small houses also. The Forest officials had stated that these were encroachments and the occupants had applied for `patta'. However, the Commissioner noticed that `jendas' were fixed excluding these encroachments. According to the Forest officials, the `jendas' were fixed in 1997. The explanation offered for fixing them, excluding the encroachments, was that they might prevent further encroachments. It was a sad state of affair, the report said. The Commission conducted the investigations in areas in 2001 and 2002. The Commissioners also pointed out that in between forest areas, encroachments were allowed to be perpetuated. Jeep road was seen in these areas. The forest officers' explanation was that the roads were originally used for the removal of timber and later by private people. Now, if the road was blocked, there will be political intervention, they said. In the Mullakanam location, they had found private holdings, houses and plantations, which were said to be encroachments. They also found election posters of M. S. Joseph, Roshi Augustine, and P. P. Sulaiman Rawther, in the area. A C.S.I.Church (a shed with asbestos roofing) built within one year was also found in this area. The Commissioners said that they did not know whether it was constructed with the consent of the authorities. The inspection report of the Conservator of Forest, dated September 5, 2000 also showed that in Mullakkanam , a footpath in the forestry project area, had been converted into a road by the locals. It mentioned that a pond was seen constructed after blasting rock inside the treatment area and that masonry work had been carried out for the construction of a retaining wall. The Commissioner also found a volley ball court in Chakkimali in the forest area which had been in constant use. Flags of different political parties were seen hoisted on poles erected at the corner of the said plot, probably used for political meetings.
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