Greens urge Kerala government to buy disputed land at Thusharagiri

Handing over land to original owners could spell ecological disaster for area, they say

The All Kerala River Protection Committee has urged the State government to purchase the disputed land at Thusharagiri as they fear an ecological disaster if the land is handed over to the original owners following a recent Supreme Court order. The State government had in 2000 taken over 540 acres of land near the Thusharagiri waterfalls in high-range region of Kozhikode district, after environmentalists like Medha Patkar and Sugathakumari protested against the uncontrolled tree felling in Jeerakappara near the area. The barren land has now turned into dense forest inhabited by several animals and some endangered species of butterflies. Some landowners had approached the court demanding that the land should be returned to them as they were not compensated for it. The case has recently been settled in their favour at the Supreme Court, and 71 acres of land have to be returned to the original owners.