CPI(M) threatens agitation over proposed Pathanamthitta eco-sensitive area

The CPI(M) has threatened an indefinite agitation over the proposed Ecologically Sensitive Area covering parts of Pathanamthitta, Kerala, and is demanding the complete exclusion of seven villages. The escalation follows the State government’s revised proposal to the Union government, which seeks to exclude inhabited areas and agricultural land from the ESA. None of the seven Pathanamthitta villages named in the Centre’s draft notification appears on the State’s list for complete exclusion.

CPI(M) district secretary Raju Abraham said the party would intensify its campaign if the government failed to act. He said residents had submitted about 75,000 appeals to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change seeking the removal of all seven villages. Mr Abraham argued that the State government’s recommendation would carry greater weight than individual appeals.

He said the previous Left Democratic Front government had recommended the complete exclusion of inhabited areas in the villages. The villages are Kollamula, Perunad, Chittar, Seethathode, Vadasserikkara, Thannithode and Aruvappulam. Opposition representatives have warned that restrictions linked to the ESA could aggravate human-wildlife conflict and eventually force residents to leave their homes and land.

Residents have also questioned how the boundaries can be identified while forests, plantations, farmland and houses are closely interspersed. They fear that dividing individual survey numbers between ESA and non-ESA areas could create disputes. The ruling UDF says the revised State proposal is consistent with its position because it excludes inhabited areas and agricultural land.

A senior Congress leader said villages sharing boundaries with forests could not be excluded in their entirety. The State report would reduce the proposed ESA area in Pathanamthitta from 1,543.01 square kilometres to 1,308.25 square kilometres, according to the material.