Idukki Collector Orders Report on Illegal Constructions in Elephant Corridors

The Idukki District Collector, Dineshan Cheruvatt, has directed the Forest department to submit a detailed report on illegal constructions within elephant corridors across the district. The directive was issued during a District Development Committee (DDC) meeting held at the Idukki Collectorate on Saturday.

The Collector instructed forest officials to gather reports from all divisions listing unauthorised structures built along known elephant migration routes. The move follows concerns raised by Udumbanchola MLA Senapathy Venu over the Forest department's refusal to permit boating services at Anayirankal dam. Officials at the meeting also noted that several resorts continue to operate within elephant corridors in the district.

During the meeting, Mr. Venu highlighted that boating is a major attraction at Kundala, Mattupetty, and the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady. He said that wild elephants are present in significant numbers in these tourist destinations, yet the Forest department does not object to boating there. He added that Anayirankal has only 17 wild elephants, but the department has repeatedly blocked boating operations. "We suspect this is being done to favour the Ponmudi tourism centre," he said.

The Hydel Tourism wing of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) previously operated the boating service at Anayirankal dam, which was among the most popular tourist spots in the district. Boating has been suspended since July 2023, following a Kerala High Court directive based on recommendations from a five-member expert committee appointed to study human-elephant conflicts in the state.

Forest department sources said that the blocking of elephant corridors remains a critical issue in areas including Chinnakkanal. Officials recently cleared a major encroachment in the Devikulam range that was obstructing the movement of wild elephants near the Anayirankal dam reservoir.

The report sought by the Collector is expected to provide a comprehensive picture of encroachments and help in preparing a plan to clear the corridors. The issue of human-elephant conflict has been a long-standing concern in Idukki, with several incidents of elephant deaths and property damage reported in recent years. Authorities have been under pressure to balance conservation with development and tourism activities.

The Forest department has been instructed to submit the report at the earliest, and the Collector has sought specific details on the number of structures, their owners, and the extent of encroachment. The DDC meeting also reviewed other development projects in the district, but the elephant corridor issue was the primary focus.