All populated areas are forest land on map; thousands protest in Angel Valley and Pampa Valley, uproot forest department’s board

KOTTAYAM: Widespread protests are witnessed in n the hilly areas of Kottayam district over the new map released by the state government to calm the public anger on the buffer zone issue. Thousands of people protested strongly in the area as the residential areas of Pampa Valley and Angel Valley near Erumeli turned into forest area on the map. The densely populated areas are forest land on the new map.

More than five thousand people live in this area. The locals protested by uprooting the boards of the forest department and came in front of the forest range office with the board.

The government released the map due to public concern over the creation of buffer zone adjacent to the forest. However, the map shows that the inhabited area of Angel Valley is not buffer zone but forest land itself. Forest department officials said that it is only a mistake in recording. Residents of the area have complained to the minister in person.