Forest department removes encroachment and restore elephant passage in Anayirankal

Forest department officials destroying an illegal cardamom plantation at Choondal near Anayirankal in Idukki on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Forest department officials on Tuesday cleared a major encroachment on government land and restored a natural elephant passage in the proposed Chinnakkanal reserve near Anayirankal, under the Devikulam forest range in Idukki. According to Devikulam Range Officer E.D. Arun Kumar, a group of five individuals encroached upon nearly 10 hectares of land within the 56.36-hectare proposed reserve area at Choonadal, near Anayirankal, and began cardamom cultivation. The forest department team reclaimed the land and destroyed the illegally planted cardamom crops.

Officials noted that the encroachers had installed solar fencing and steel cables across the land and throughout the catchment area of the Anayirankal dam. On Tuesday, forest personnel dismantled the illegal barriers to reopen the traditional wildlife route.