Entry of off-road vehicles, tourists without prior permission banned at Chokramudy revenue land
The Kerala Revenue department has banned unauthorized off-road vehicles and tourists from entering reclaimed land at Chokramudy near Munnar. The measure aims to protect the fragile Neelakurinji flowers, which have recently bloomed in the area.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing conflict between tourism-driven economic activity and the preservation of sensitive ecological zones in India.
The Revenue department on Saturday banned the entry of unauthorised off-road vehicles on revenue land at Chokramudy, under Bison Valley village near Munnar in Keralam.
According to officials, the blooming of Neelakurinji on the Chokramudy hills has been drawing thousands of tourists to the area. The region, falling under Survey No. 36, is a land that was reclaimed from encroachers in 2025 and is currently under government possession. Neelakurinji flowers have bloomed across these reclaimed areas.
Following the opening of the hills to visitors by the Forest department on August 24, a large number of off-road vehicles entered the reclaimed revenue land so that tourists could view the flowers.
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