Controversy over not inviting local representatives on opening day of Neelakurinji blooming season in Keralam
A conflict has emerged between local panchayats and the Kerala Forest Department regarding the opening of the Neelakurinji blooming season at Chokramudy hills. Local representatives claim they were excluded from the event and criticize the management of tourism revenue and waste.
Why it matters
The dispute underscores the tension between environmental conservation efforts and the rights of local governance in managing tourism-heavy ecological sites.
As a fresh Neelakurinji blooming season draws tourists to the Chokramudy hills following their reopening on Monday (August 24, 2026), a rift has erupted between local civic bodies and the Forest department. Residents and elected representatives alleged that the Forest department failed to invite or even inform them about the opening of the season.
In 2024, parts of the Neelakurinji-covered Chokramudy hills witnessed large-scale encroachment, illegal construction, tree felling, and the uprooting of the rare flora. Following the incident, residents from the valley area in Bison Valley panchayat formed the Chokramudy Protection Council to protest and demand the removal of encroachments and the conservation of the hills. Prompted by the public outcry, the State government constituted two special investigation teams (SITs). Based on their reports, the Devikulam Subcollector revoked the illegal title deeds and reclaimed the land in 2025.
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