Kerala

Declaration of second tiger reserve soon

Benoy Viswom: 56 eco-tourism projects in the next two years.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom said in the Assembly on Monday that the second tiger reserve in the State would be declared within a few weeks.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for Forest and Housing, the Minister said that the reserve would cover Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary (and neighbouring areas of Tamil Nadu).

Mr. Viswom also announced that the Forest Department would take up 56 eco-tourism projects in the next two years.

Referring to the protests by local people over notification of the Kurinjimala Sanctuary, near Munnar, the Minister said that private holdings with titles would be excluded from the sanctuary. An error that had occurred in the notification, consequent to citing of the survey number instead of block numbers, would be corrected when the final notification was issued.

The Minister’s description of the Opposition as “friends of Xavi Mano Mathew” during his reply led to noisy protests by the Opposition. (Xavi Mano Mathew is the proprietor of the Merchiston tea estate at Ponmudi who was in the centre of a recent controversy over the sale of land to the Indian Space Research Organisation.) Some Opposition members moved towards the well of the House protesting against the remark.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition G. Karthikeyan demanded that the Minister should withdraw the remark. The Minister stuck to his words and the Opposition walked out. They did not return for the remaining part of the sitting.

Mr. Viswom said that Xavi Mano Mathew had purchased the estate from Jayasree Tea and Industries Limited when the UDF was in power in the State. The sale was registered despite the area being notified as an ecologically fragile land. This showed who the friends of Mr. Mathew were, he said.

Recalling the allegations raised against him by the Opposition, the Minister noted that the High Court had rejected the petition filed against him and Labour Minister P.K. Gurudasan. The court had observed that there was nothing to show that the Ministers had convened a conference with Mr. Mathew to discuss issues related to the running of the estate with any ulterior motive or extraneous reason.

Referring to the clash between the Karshaka Sanghom and Forest officials in Wayanad district, the Minister said that the legal complexities regarding the disputed land occupied by farmer George would be resolved. After that, steps would be taken to return the land taken over by the Forest Department from the farmer. A meeting of people’s representatives and environmental organisations would be convened to discuss the issues regarding diversion of forest land for the Anchancoil-Konni and Maniyar-Thannithode roads.

After the Minister’s reply, the House passed the demands for grants totalling Rs.238.20 crore.

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