Panel to consider two complaints on leasing and illegal diversion of forest land in Kerala

Two complaints from Kerala on the reported illegal diversion of forest land and irregular timber auction in Chalakudy forest division, and the alleged continued use of reserved forest land by Plantation Corporation of Kerala even after the expiry of the lease period will come up before the Central Empowered Committee, New Delhi, on Monday.

The committee constituted by the Supreme Court will consider the complaint of T.J. Krishnan, president of the Ecological Conservation Society, North Paravur, on the alleged continued use of leased land and the ongoing pineapple cultivation in the Kalady group of plantations.

Though the lease agreement between the Forest department and the corporation had expired a few years ago, an area of around 600 hectares was reportedly sub-leased to the private firm for pineapple farming, according to the complainant.