Protest continues in front of Assistant Wildlife Warden’s Office at Munnar

Indefinite strike in Munnar over road construction funds dispute with Forest Department, residents demand permission for development work.

A joint action council of citizens is continuing an indefinite strike in front of the Assistant Wildlife Warden’s Office at Pampadumshola in Munnar, demanding permission for construction work on the Kadavari-Kottakamboor route.

Residents led by R. Chemmalar, ward member of Kadavari ward of the Vattavada panchayat, near Munnar, began the protest on September 4 after the Forest department objected to construction work on the Kadavari-Kottakkamboor stretch.

Ms. Chemmalar said that the panchayat decided to carry out concreting of a 1.5-km portion of the 12-km road. “Around 175 families live in the area, and the road is the only way to connect with the outside world. But the Forest department demands that the money be transferred to their Forest Development Agency (FDA) and they will construct the road,” she said.

“As per the directive, the panchayat decided to transfer the money for the road construction to the Forest department in 2023. But the Forest department refused to sign an agreement with the panchayat and the fund lapsed in 2023,” she said.

She alleged that the officials were trying to block all developmental activities in the village under the guise of protecting forests. “We will continue the protest till we find a solution to the issue,” said Ms. Chemmalar.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) took out a protest march in front of the forest office on Tuesday, demanding permission for road construction. CPI district secretaryK. Salim Kumar inaugurated the march. Mr. Salim Kumar said the Forest Minister should call a meeting to address the issue.

Meanwhile, Munnar wildlife warden K.V. Harikrishnan said that some areas (58 and 62 blocks) in the Vattavada panchayat had been included in the proposed Neelakurinji sanctuary. “The road will come under the sanctuary area, and the settlement process of the sanctuary has not yet been completed. In the present situation, we cannot allow construction activities by other agencies in the area,” said the official.