In a move that could have far-reaching implications on the highly vulnerable environmental balance of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and the adjoining Nelliyampathy hill ranges, the State government may revive an old proposal to lay a 40-km road without entering the Pollachi region of Tamil Nadu.
The project, shelved four years ago by the United Democratic Front government following objections raised by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), got a new lease of life last week when Tamil Nadu officials started blocking movement of vehicles bound for Parambikulam at the Sethumadai check-post, near Pollachi, following altercations between Kerala forest officials and PWD employees of Tamil Nadu.
Though Parambikulam forms part of 11th ward of Muthalamada grama panchayat, officials and visitors have to travel for 28 km into the Pollachi region to re-enter the Kerala territory, and that too, depending on the permission from Tamil Nadu’s Anamalai Tiger Reserve authorities.
Under pressure from forest officials, P.K. Biju, MP, and K. Babu, MLA, have written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to convene a meeting to discuss the project. “The State can convince the MoEF about the need of such a road citing the recurring clashes between Kerala and Tamil Nadu officials and also highlighting the need of better livelihood and health-care access for tribespeople living within the reserve,’’ said a senior forest officer.
Environmentalists and Tamil Nadu had opposed the project saying it would affect the environment and disrupt flow into waterbodies which are part of the Parambikulam-Aliyar project.
“The proposed road has no use other than serving tourism interests. Only 600 tribespeople reside in the four colonies inside the reserve area. They live in perfect harmony with nature and have no need for a new road. If implemented, it will affect the tigers and elephants as it requires blasting of rocks inside the forests,’’ said S. Guruvayurappan, environmentalist.
