Wayanad Environmental Group Demands Halt to Forest Land Acquisition for Medical College
The Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samithi has issued a strong demand for the government to immediately abandon its proposed move to acquire 11.2 hectares of precious forest land located at Ambukuthi. This land is intended for establishing permanent facilities for the Wayanad government medical college, a project that has sparked significant controversy and opposition from environmental activists.
Allegations of Fraud in Compensatory Afforestation
The committee has leveled serious allegations, stating that a recent government order to hand over 8.9 hectares in Sulthan Bathery Puthoor and 2.3 hectares in Kappad as compensatory afforestation land—in exchange for acquiring the Ambukuthi forest area—constitutes an act of fraud. According to the Samithi, these compensatory lands were previously in the possession of local farmers who voluntarily relinquished them to the forest department under a relocation program associated with the Rebuild Kerala initiative.
Samithi president N Badusha emphasized that these areas have already naturally regenerated into forest ecosystems, making their designation as compensatory land misleading and ineffective for genuine environmental offsetting.
History of Controversial Land Decisions
The controversy deepens with revelations about previous land offers for the medical college. The Samithi highlighted that a private trust had earlier generously offered 50 acres of land free of cost at Madakkimala, near Kalpetta, specifically for constructing the medical college. In a shocking turn of events, thousands of large trees valued at crores of rupees were felled from this site, only for authorities to subsequently decide against establishing the college there.
The committee has alleged that this reversal was driven by narrow political motives, raising questions about the transparency and consistency of land-use decisions affecting Wayanad's natural resources.
Availability of Alternative Land Options
In their appeal, the Samithi pointed out that the district possesses ample alternative land that could be utilized without encroaching on forest areas. They noted the availability of:
- Thousands of acres of government-owned land
- Many hectares of plantation land whose lease periods have expired
These options, they argue, present viable alternatives that would spare the ecologically sensitive forest land from development pressures.
Urgent Calls to Forest and Environmental Authorities
The committee has issued a direct and urgent plea to both the forest department and the Union environment ministry, urging them not to support or approve the use of forest land for the medical college project. They stress that protecting Wayanad's remaining forest cover is crucial for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development in the region.
This standoff highlights the ongoing tension between infrastructure development and environmental preservation in Kerala, with local activists demanding greater accountability and ecological sensitivity in government land-use decisions.
