Congress leaders, VS Achuthanandan join Kurinji row

Thiruvananthapuram: The government decision to redraw the boundaries of the Kurinji sanctuary at Munnar has triggered a controversy with Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala, KPCC president M.M. Hassan and former president V.M. Sudheeran flaying the free hand given to land grabbers to encroach on public property. Administrative Reforms Commission chairman and former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan, during whose tenure the sanctuary was formed, was also unhappy with the decision. He said that all  encroachments should be removed. Mr Chennithala  wanted to know the stand of Mr Achuthanandan on the issue as the Kurinji garden spreading across 3,200 hectares was notified as a sanctuary during the tenure of the VS  ministry with the then forest minister Binoy Viswam taking the lead.

Mr Chennithala said that the UDF would not allow this move and added that the UDF Idukki district committee will discuss the steps to be taken against it.   Mr Sudheeran said the decision would protect  the encroachers. However, revenue minister E. Chandrasekharan defended the move  saying that the government had no prejudice on the issue. All those who have proper documents would be protected and those who are willing to relocate will be rehabilitated. Discussions will be held with the local population.  The action on the sanctuary was delayed by 11 years, said Mr Chandrasekharan.

The LDF government under Mr Achuthanandan on October 6, 2006 had notified the 3,200 hectares of land belonging to the Kottakambur village block 68 and survey number 1 and the block 62 in the Vattavada village as Kurinjimala national sanctuary to preserve the 'Neelakurinji' plants growing largely in these regions. However, there were reports that many genuine title deeds, including those issued by the former government of Travancore and under the Kerala Land Assignment Act 1960, had land inside the sanctuary. Many felt that the government decision was linked to the cancellation of the title deeds  of 28 acres  in  the possession of Idukki MP Joice George and family in block No 58 of Kottakamboor.