Munnar's Neelakurinji: A flower that attracts Kerala's land sharks and politicians more than bees

The neelakurinji (strobilanthes kunthianus), a plant endemic to Kerala's Munnar hills, which is due for its once-in-12 years flowering in July 2018, is back at the heart of intense politicking in the state.Back in 2006, the then Left Front government led by V.S. Achuthanandan had proclaimed 3,200 hectares of the neelakurinji habitat in Munnar as a sanctuary on the lines of the country's national parks. This came after over a million people flocked to witness the colourful spectacle. While environmentalists hailed the move, local owners and land sharks met it with protests. Under pressure, Achuthanandan agreed to exclude title-holders of land from the kurinji sanctuary.Among those who benefitted was Idukki MP Joyce George and his family who claimed ownership of 58 acres. Like him, many other politicians also gained. However, early this November, the Left Front MP's title was cancelled after it was found to be illegal. Former principal chief conservator of forests V.S. Varghese says fake land records are common in the area and verification is often impossible because of the criminal-politician-bureaucrat nexus.The kurinji sanctuary was a forgotten episode with previous LDF and UDF governments keeping mum for over a decade. That was until Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a meeting to prepare for the 2018 neelakurinji bloom. The tourism department mooted an extensive 'green campaign' to draw tourists to Munnar..preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}The exercise brought to the fore all the tangled issues once again. The CPI, with 19 MLAs and in charge of the revenue and forest departments, took the position that "only legal title holders would be excluded from the sanctuary area". But CPI(M) minister M.M. Mani, who's from Idukki, is insisting that all pattayas (titles) must be excluded without verification. The contrary stands within the ruling coalition prompted the CM to constitute a three-member cabinet sub-committee to visit Munnar and talk to title holders.Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala of the Congress sees the panel as an "attempt to scuttle the kurinji sanctuary to benefit the land mafia". Interestingly, the BJP is the only party with no apparent stake in protecting the encroachers. Clearly spotting a political opportunity, state chief Kummanam Rajasekharan has petitioned the National Green Tribunal against the rush of illegal encroachments in Munnar. "The CPI(M) is destroying the ecologically fragile region," he says.A trifle nonplussed, CM Vijayan says his government is "committed to protecting the kurinji habitat". Insisting that only the stakes of small landowners will be protected, he said any future course of action will depend on the committee's findings. Published By: AtMigration Published On: Dec 8, 2017--- ENDS ---

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Munnar's Neelakurinji: A flower that attracts Kerala's land sharks and politicians more than bees

The neelakurinji, which will bloom again in 2018, is at the heart of an intense land battle in the Munnar hills.

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