Sabarimala Ropeway project: Revenue Department tries to give forest land to Forest Department

PATHANAMTHITTA: The land found by the Revenue Department to be given to the Forest Department in exchange for the land to be acquired for the Sabarimala Ropeway project belongs to the Forest Department itself! The action was taken without proper investigation.

The Revenue Department was set to transfer 4.5377 hectares of land in Idukki's Kanjikkuzhi village to the Forest Department. It also asked the Forest Department to suggest if the land was suitable. However, the Chief Forest Conservator informed the government that the land's ownership already lies with the Forest Department. The letter also stated that the Revenue Department's action was inappropriate and contrary to regulations. The land acquired by the Forest Department under the Rebuild Kerala Development Project, as part of the voluntary family rehabilitation scheme, is located in the Kaithappara area under the Velur Forest Station in the Thodupuzha Range of Kothamangalam Division. The land is among the 16.6829 hectares acquired by the department by providing compensation to the land owners in Block No. 46, Survey No. 505-1 PT (Periyar Tiger Reserve).

The land in question falls under Survey Number allocated with a 9(3) pattayam (lease) under the Kerala Land Assignment Special Rules, 1993, covering an area of 13.0927 hectares. Additionally, the Forest Department has submitted a request to the Idukki Tahsildar to transfer ownership and facilitate the mutation (pokkuvaravu) of the land.