Kottayam: The encroachers have destroyed hundreds of Neelakurinji plants at Jendapara near Kottakambur in the proposed Kurinji sanctuary area, but the forest authorities have not taken any action against the culprits. The plants were found burnt in August and their remnants are seen there, according to forest department sources. Jendapara is an inaccessible area where one can reach only after walking for at least two hours from the Kottakambur village. The National Green Tribunal had criticised the government for not releasing the final notification of the Kurinji sanctuary. The Neelakurinji is expected to bloom by next year.
The incident surfaced even as the government has constituted a special committee to relook the boundary of the sanctuary where nearly 1,000 acres are allegedly under the possession of encroachers. Mr S. Siby, range officer in charge of Shola range, refused to say anything "since the issue has become a controversy." The region comes under the jurisdiction of the Munnar WildLife Warden.
