Karnataka enters Kerala and registers buffer zone; marks in Kannur found within five kilometers of border

KANNUR: Karnataka encroached to Ayyankunnu Panchayat and marked it as an environmentally sensitive zone. In two wards of Ayyankunnu panchayat in Kannur, Karnataka registered the buffer zone. Marking has been done on the second Kadavu-Kalithattumpara road crossing the 2.5 km inhabited area of Kannur Kalithattumpara and one and a half km forest land in Kerala as a buffer zone of Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. From Palathinkadavu to Kalithattumpara, which shares the forest border with Karnataka, six places were marked with red colour by Karnataka.

However, neither the state government nor the forest department is aware of Karnataka's action. About 300 families in this region got scared after seeing the marking. In addition to the residential area and panchayat roads, the residents of the area are worried that the Barapole hydropower project, powerhouse and KSTP road will be in the buffer zone.

The officials made the marking in such a way that it did not attract the attention of the local residents for four days. Earlier, in 2017, places including private land in Kerala were marked as Karnataka environmentally sensitive zone. After seeing the marking today, the Youth Congress activists reached and protested. The red marks were removed with oil.