The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has decided to intensify agitations against the alleged laxity of the Forest Department in relaxing the curbs imposed by the department on the entry of tourists to the Kuruva islands.
The islands are a unique biodiversity hotspot on the Western Ghats and an ecotourism destination that comes under the South Wayanad forest division.
A group of CPI(M) activists led by O.R. Kelu, MLA, launched an indefinite fast in front of the North Wayanad Divisional forest office at Mananthavady on Tuesday seeking to retain the previous status quo on the entry of tourists till an impact assessment of the island was over.
The Forest Department in November 2017 restricted the number of visitors to the islands at 400 a day to curb increasing human-related activities on the islands, the lone freshwater island in the Western Ghats.
However, Mr. Kelu told The Hindu that a meeting of various stakeholders, chaired by former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), decided on March 3, 2017, to recommend the State government to revise the entry limit from the current 400 per day to 2,000. Though the official had promised that the decision would be executed in 15 days, it was yet to be materialised, he said .
On Wednesday, however, the Forest Department agreed to allow 950 tourists a per day as against the permited 400.
District Collector S. Suhas then held a discussion with Mr. Kelu on Thursday to conclude the fast, but the MLA did not relent. Mr. Kelu said he would take out a march on Saturday to Kuruva island, if the department failed to carry out its promise of allowing 2,000 tourists per day within two days.
Meanwhile, V.K. Sasidharan, president, Communist Party of India (CPI), Mananthavadi Mandalom committee, said the Forest Department had imposed the restriction when the unique habitat at the islets in the Kabani river was under stress from the increasing number of tourists. The restriction was imposed as per a study conducted by Bitpal Sinha, senior scientist, Institute of Wildlife India, Mr. Sasidharan said
