Ponnambalamedu under PTR may kick up a row

PATHANAMTHITTA: In a decision that may spark fresh controversies, the State Government has given its nod for the inclusion of Ponnambalamedu, the ‘moolasthanam’ of  Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple, under the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR).The latest decision was taken at a time when the Travancore Devaswom Board and voluntary organisations such as Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham are campaigning for the delinking of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple from the purview of the PTR.The restrictions to be imposed by the forest reserve rules will raise a big question mark on Makarajyothi darsan from Ambalamedu on the Makaravilaku day.With the inclusion of the additional 148-sq kms of evergreen forest spread over the Goodrickal range under Ranni division and the Vallakdavu range under Periyar East division, the total forest area under the PTR will touch 925 sq kms.Another problem that might arise with the inclusion of the new forest region is regarding the fate of the 300-odd Lankan Tamil families settled in Gavi-Kochu Pampa areas.The hapless refugees from Lanka, who had been rehabilitated in Gavi under the Sirimavo Bandaranayake-Lal Bahadur Shastri pact of late 60s, will face displacement if the new decision is implemented without their proper rehabilitation.The Lankan Tamil families, living in poverty-like conditions, presently earn their living by working in the cardamom plantations set up under the pact.Gavi Eco-ToursimProjectThe future prospects of the Gavi Eco-Tourism Project, managed by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation, may face uncertainty owing to the stringent restrictions under the Periyar Tiger Reserve rules.In addition, the recent set of rules brought out by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, including restriction on tourist arrivals and timing of visit, will affect the development of the unique eco-tourism project.On the other hand, the nature-lovers and wildlife protectors could feel really happy about the inclusion of another 148 sq kms of evergreen forest under the PTR.With the widening of the vast stretch of evergreen tropical forest, elephants, an estimated 1,000 numbers under PTR purview, tigers, leopards, wild gaur, lion-tailed macaque, common langur and Nilagiri langur could be protected well.