SAVE THOOTHANPARA - SAVE NELLIAMPATHI

The content of letter submitted to the Forest minister of Kerala, Copy to Chief Minister, Chief forest officials etc.

Name of the Estate: Thoothanpara

Location : Nelliampathi hills, Nelliamapthi Forest range, Nemmara Forest Division, Palakkad district, Kerala.
Land Status: Reserve Forest
Lease period upto : June 30th 2007
Lease date: june 30th 1908
Lease Duration: 99 years
Present Lease holder: M/s. Poabs Plantations Pvt. Ltd.

Lease details: Lease deed is executed between the Diwan of Cochin on the part of lessor and Mr. P.B. Key on the part of lessee on the 30th june 1908 an extent of 300 acres is assigned to the lessee for the purpose of raising coffee cultivation for a period of 99 years. The present lease holder has approached the forest minister and the High court to continue the lease in order to protect and promote organic farming and products. They are claiming the same with awards and certificates at international level.

Why to take back the estate and convert in to forest?
Ecological importance of the area: Ecologically high sensitive area with north, south, and east area as Parambilulam wildlife Sanctuary (proposed project tiger reserve) and west Nelliampathi Reserve forest (Rosary estate taken back by forest department) The place is abode of Rare, Endangered and threatened species like Lion Tailed macaque, Elephant, Tiger, leopard, Nilgiri Thar, Nilgiri Langur, Great Indian Hornbill, and a diversity of medicianal plants. The location falls under project elephant and it is a crucial elephant migratory route.
Some legal points
1. As per Forest Conservation Act 1980, after the completion of the lease period in forests, sanction from MOEF/ Govt of India is required to renew the lease
2. Also there are some rulings of Supreme Court stating restriction to renew forest leases.
3. At the same time within the lease period, there were a number of lease agreement violations happened. Forest department has booked 14 such offences between the year1991-2000 (most of them are compounded with a fine up to Rs.1, 82,000). The offences are habitat destruction actitivites like Timber cutting, clearing forest cover etc.
4. It is known that though there are 300 laborers working in the estate, there are no records to list the permanent laborers.
5. The estate is located just middle of the two-forest area where most of the animals can be sited. It is also known that (not in records!) poaching is regularly happening in this area.

So you are requested to join hands to protect the forest other wise there will be 100s of such cases, which will remain in the hands of private parties.