Kerala sets up committees to exempt settlements from wildlife sanctuary buffer zones

Earlier, the State government had submitted proposals to the Union government and the National Wildlife Board to exclude these areas from the buffer zones of the respective wildlife sanctuaries. Preparing and submitting draft guidelines is part of fully implementing this recommendation.

While the Thattekad settlement lies within the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, the Pambavalli and Angelvalley settlements are located inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve.

On use of property

During the meeting, the Forest Minister reiterated that the State government was not willing to impose any restrictions on the free use of property by residents in these areas, as suggested by the Union government. Poonjar legislator Sebastian Kulathunkal and Kothamangalam MLA Antony John were also present.

Officials from the Forest department attending the meeting included Additional Chief Secretary Minhaj Alam, Chief Wildlife Warden Pramod G. Krishnan, and Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation Field Director P.P. Pramod, among others.