Kerala: Blurred borders affect people, ecology

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Over 2,640 kms, nearly 16 percent of the total forest boundary of 16,845 kms in the state, have been left undemarcated. The largest stretch of forest fringe without a clearly defined border, 1,092 kms, runs along the High Range Circle, Kottayam. This unsettled nature of forest boundaries has not just encouraged unbridled encroachments but has also prevented thousands of farmers or those living in the shadow of the forest from selling their land in times of need like the education of their children or marriage. The hazy border also stands in the way of marking the buffer zone between forest and non-forest land.

Large “open” stretches are already taking its toll on the conservation activities of the Forest Department. Illegal activities like encroachments and mining virtually go unnoticed because the Department has no clear idea where the forests begin. “Forest land is so scattered that it is hard to differentiate between forest and non-forest areas. Identifying buffer zones, therefore, becomes virtually impossible,” a DFO in a southern division said. The Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules stipulate that quarrying should be held at least 100 metres away from the forest boundary.

Along with the ecology, non-existent borders hurt humans, too. Families living near the forest do not have title deeds over their land as they find it virtually impossible to get the mandatory ‘no objection certificates’ from government authorities for the registration of their land. Such a requirement, the securing of an NOC to get a land registered, was introduced through an amendment to the Registration Act in 2012.

Forest minister K. Raju conceded that there was delay in the grant of NOCs to families living near the forest. “However, there is no delay in the grant of NOCs for land near forests with clearly defined boundaries,” the minister added. The minister said that beat forest officers were being provided training to complete the demarcation of forest boundaries. Batches of 30 officers each are being given training in state-of-the-art survey techniques at the Modern Government Research and Training Centre for Survey. These officers, the minister said, would be designated as government-approved surveyors to fix forest boundaries.