Kerala HC initiates suo motu PIL into tree-felling on CHR land in Idukki

The Kerala High Court registered a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Wednesday, alleging large-scale tree-felling and unauthorised construction on approximately 296 acres of cardamom title land on Gudanpara Estate, Idukki, falling under the Ponmudi Forest Section, Devikulam Range.

The petition was initiated on a report in The Hindu on extensive destruction of virgin forest land in the name of cardamom cultivation in the estate. Three cases have been registered by the Forest department relating to the felling of rare tree species. 

Serious environmental concerns were raised in the report regarding the alleged destruction of forest land, loss of biodiversity, unauthorised activities in an ecologically sensitive area, and the need to ensure effective implementation of the forest and environmental laws for the protection and conservation of the Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR), the PIL stated.

The court noted that Gudanpara Estate was originally claimed by local and Tamil Nadu residents and then leased out. No farming activities had previously been carried out on the said land. The “owners”  had not produced copies of title deeds despite repeated demands from the authorities. The estate shares its boundaries with Tamil Nadu and contains more than 600 varieties of trees, forming part of a virgin forest ecosystem and serving as a natural habitat for several wildlife species.

The Chief Secretary, Forest and Revenue departments, Chief Conservator of Forest, Divisional Forest Officer, Devikulam, and the District Collector, Idukki, have been impleaded in the PIL to respond and take necessary measures regarding the allegations. 

Another case of tree-felling in the Cardamom Hill Reserve was reported last year, at Uchilukuth in Santhanpara. Over 1,000 indigenous trees were felled on 40 acres without any authorisation, under the pretence of cardamom cultivation.