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.Last week, following an order by the Idukki District Collector, forest officials removed fences blocking elephant movement at Panthadikkalam. Officials stated that after the barriers were dismantled, the wild tusker known as ‘Chakkakompan’ moved into Mathikettan Shola National Park after one-and-a-half years.Spraying chemicalsHigh Range Circle Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) D.K. Vinod Kumar stated that encroachers had been spraying chemicals across natural grasslands at Anayirankal to dry out the native vegetation and convert it into cardamom plantations. “The Forest department expects human-elephant conflict in the region to decrease significantly once natural elephant passages are cleared,” the CCF said.Meanwhile, Cardamom Planters Federation Chairman Stany Pothen alleged that the Devikulam Range Officer acted under the pretext of the District Collector’s orders to illegally dismantle fences on titled (pattayam) lands in Chinnakkanal. “We cannot allow such actions. The Cardamom Planters Federation has submitted a formal complaint to the Forest Minister regarding the illegal removal of fences from patta lands. A total of 18 complaints have been lodged demanding action against the range officer. The Forest Minister has sought a report from the Chief Wildlife Warden, and we expect appropriate action,” said Mr. Pothen.Mr. Pothen added that the Forest department is attempting to carve out an elephant corridor between Mathikettan and Anayirankal through farmers’ private property. “We cannot accept such moves by the department,” he said. Published - October 06, 2026 07:10 pm IST