Tree felling on CHR land in Idukki: Forest department will ask Revenue department to take action

The Forest department will ask the District Collector and the Devikulam Subcollector to take action against the owner of the Gudanpara estate for repeatedly violating the lease conditions of cardamom title deeds on the Cardamom Hills Reserve (CHR). The decision comes in the wake of repeated, large-scale tree felling and illegal construction activities on virgin forestland within the estate, which falls under the Ponmudi section of the Devikulam forest range in Munnar.

“Within one and a half years, the Forest department had booked three cases over massive tree felling and illegal construction activities on CHR land. The leaseholders repeatedly violated the lease conditions of the land. We will submit a letter to the District Collector and Devikulam Subcollector seeking the cancellation of the title deed over these repeated violations,” said Munnar divisional forest officer Saju Varghese.

According to officials, the land was originally issued for the sole purpose of cardamom farming. However, the landowner violated the agreement and leased out over 150 acres to Tamil Nadu natives.

“As per the rules, the owner cannot sublease such a large amount of land. The cardamom settlement officer and the District Collector have the authority to cancel the title and reclaim the land for the government. On CHR lands, tree ownership lies with the Forest department, while the land falls under the Revenue department. Therefore, only the Revenue department can take strict action regarding land-related violations,” a Forest official said.

A Forest department report stated that during the investigation period, the leaseholders failed to produce any documents proving ownership of the land.

“The reality is that under the guise of cardamom title deeds, the leaseholders have illegally encroached upon a large tract of revenue land. As per the Cardamom Lease Rules of 1935 and 1961, the land is allocated exclusively for cardamom farming. A cardamom title does not grant the right to encroach on revenue land or cut trees. However, all of these conditions have been violated in Gudanpara,” said a source.

Meanwhile, Revenue officials stated that the land, spanning over 500 acres, was previously owned by Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML) before being transferred to a Pala-based group. “The land was included in the M.G. Rajamanickam report. Mr. Rajamanickam had previously been appointed as a Special Officer to takeover government lands from HML. Based on that report, the State government had already filed a civil suit regarding the land,” a senior Revenue official said.