KOTTAYAM: The Travancore Devaswom Board's (TDB) dispute with the forest department over its lands at Sabarimala is getting worse. The TDB alleges that the forest department has taken over at least eight acres of its land over the years. They now possess only 55 acres. However, the forest officials say they have only given 55 acres to the TDB as per a special government order, and it had just demanded that much. "The agreement also mentions about only 55 acres. The argument otherwise is baseless," a top official told DC.
The high power committee for Sabarimala that met a few days back decided to measure the land by Feb 1 jointly. TDB president A. Padmakumar told DC that the previous survey was a few years ago and the current status could be known only by measuring it again. The forest department says they have given land under the Forest Conservation Act, for a specific purpose or general purposes. Those for specific purposes like parking of vehicles at Pampa cannot be used for others.
