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Time of India
20-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
NGO issues legal notice over construction in reserve forest in Kerala
Kochi: Ernakulam-based NGO Animals and Nature Ethics Community (ANEC) Trust issued a legal notice to the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) demanding the immediate cessation of construction works at the Athirappilly eco-tourism centre , which is in a reserve forest. The NGO said that the ongoing construction is in violation of the wildlife and environmental protection acts. The work is underway without the approval of the Union ministry of environment and forests. The notice stated that the work is not in the approved working plan of the Vazhachal division, under which the centre falls. Still, unauthorised activities continue under the pretext of "tourism repair", amounting to clear violations of national and state laws. The activities currently taking place in this area are not included in any of the prescriptions outlined in the working plan. The forest department has not applied for permission under Forest Conservation Act. The notice raises alarm regarding the impact the "unauthorised" work will have on the forest area. "Construction near the Parambikulam–Sholayar reserve and elephant corridors constitutes a direct threat to wildlife habitats and is a punishable offence," the notice states. Illegal occupation or alteration of forest land is a cognisable offence, it said. It went on to pinpoint each violation in the construction activities in the tourism centre. The notice warned that failure to stop the construction activities, which are in violation of laws, will invite legal actions.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Time of India
NGO files complaint over mysterious wildlife deaths linked to illegal pineapple plantations in state
Kochi: Ernakulam-based NGO ANEC Trust filed a complaint with the chief wildlife warden of Kerala over the mysterious deaths of wild elephants and a herd of Sambar deer in Vazhachal forest area. The incidents have been occurring within Vazhachal, Chalakudy and Malayattoor forest divisions in recent months this year. However, no accountability has been fixed over the mysterious deaths so far. The repeated mysterious deaths of wild elephants and other Schedule I wildlife, such as Sambar deer, in and around unauthorized pineapple plantations on forest leased land raise serious concerns about negligence, illegal activities and systemic failure in the enforcement of wildlife and forest protection laws. The complaint pointed out Kerala govt's failure in allowing pineapple cultivation on forest land. "Plantation Corporation of Kerala currently holds approximately 3,900 hectares of forest land on lease from the forest department, primarily in Vazhachal region, for rubber and oil palm cultivation. However, a substantial portion of this leased land was illegally sub-leased to private entities for large-scale pineapple monoculture in blatant violation of the original lease terms and forest conservation principles," reads the complaint. In Athirappilly forest range under Vazhachal division, four wild elephant carcasses were discovered over the past three months, often near areas under pineapple cultivation, it noted. Mass deaths of Sambar deer were reported in Vettilappara. It also pointed out violations of rules in the area and the unlawful use of electric fencing. The NGO urged the warden to initiate a thorough investigation into the mysterious deaths, revoke pineapple cultivation in the plantations, dismantle electric fences and take action against the officers complicit in the violations in the area.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ANEC Trust opposes clearance to granite quarries near eco-sensitive zones in Kerala
Kochi: Ernakulam-based NGO Animals and Nature Ethics Community (ANEC) Trust has written a letter to chairperson of the state board for wildlife, chief minister, prime minister and other departments concerned, objecting to the proposed clearance to 22 granite quarry projects in the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to the NGO, many of these projects fall within the statutory and default 10km radius of eco-sensitive zones around national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests. It pointed out that the move violates various central environmental legislation , legal and other rules. The NGO warned that if the permissions are granted to these quarries, it would gravely endanger the state's biodiversity, climate resilience and protection from disasters. Approving such projects in disregard of environmental statutes, judicial pronouncements and public interest constitutes an abdication of statutory duty, the letter points out.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Environmentalists oppose ‘unlawful' darting of elephant in Wayanad
Kochi: Environmentalists filed a petition with the state chief wildlife warden (CWW) against the unlawful darting of a wild elephant within the elephant corridor on the eastern flanks of Chembra Peak in Wayanad. The CWW ordered the darting to tranquilise a wild elephant in Meppadi following allegations by locals that the elephant trampled an estate worker to death on Thursday night. The petition, signed under 'For Coexistence Collective, Kerala' and the Ernakulam-based NGO ANEC, was sent to the CWW and other forest department authorities in the state and the Centre. It demanded the withdrawal of the move and the protection of the elephant corridor. As the darting operation amounts to violations of various laws, the petition demanded the assurance of ecological sensitive zone-related incentives to farmers, a ban on sound pollution activities that disturb wildlife at night, and the identification of illegal tourism resorts in the area, among other demands. It warned of legal action against the authorities if they failed to stop these violations and halt the darting operation. The petition noted that uncontrolled tourism activities fragment the forest and lead to man-animal conflicts. It highlighted that more than 1,000 legal and illegal tourism resorts operate in Vythiri and Meppadi, disturbing the wildlife. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo Meanwhile, the environmentalists noted that the department has not even identified the elephant which allegedly killed the estate worker Arumugan. The petition demanded that the elephant be continuously tracked, observed, monitored, and a database created to ensure that it has a tendency to attack humans before darting and capturing. The petition said that the govt is violating the existing provisions of the Indian wildlife and environment laws. "A Schedule-1 animal can be captured and removed from its ecosystem only if it is an inevitable situation, and a forest official succumbing to the pressures of locals is such a pathetic situation," it read.
