Idukki site from where cross was removed is a forest land, reveals RTI response

The Hindu

16-06-2025

The spot from where a cross was removed at Thommankuthu, near Thodupuzha, is a reserve forest land, the Revenue department said in response to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The application was moved by Idukki District Congress Committee (DCC) general secretary Bijo Mani.
The RTI reply said: 'A recent report by the Thodupuzha tehsildar, Jayakumar O.S., to the Idukki District Collector indicated that the village officer had submitted a status report regarding the area to the Forest department. As per the report, the area concerned is a forest land.' 'As per the 1993 Land Assignment rules, the title deed-related issues should be taken by the Karimannor Land Assignment (LA) office based on the verification,' said the report.'
The report further said that a detailed inspection was necessary before initiating steps to resolve title deed-related issues in the disputed site and nearby areas.
On April 12, the Forest department removed a cross erected the previous day by St Thomas Church, under the Syro-Malabar Church, on a property beside the Neyyassery-Thokkumban Road at Naranganam. The department also booked a case against the parish priest for erecting the cross on forest land. On April 19, the Church organised a Way of the Cross procession to the spot. Following this, Church authorities alleged that the department booked another case against Kothamangalam diocese general Vincent Nedungattu, Chancellor Father Jose Kulathur and parish priest Father James Ikaramattom on the charges of trespassing.
After the incident, the Vannappuram village officer submitted a report to the Forest department stating that the disputed spot fell within forest area. However, farmers' groups and Church authorities opposed the report and staged protests against it.
Mr. Mani said that the RTI reply also stated that a total of 458 families were included in the list of forest land encroachments after 1-1-1977 under the Kaliyar forest range. 'The reply further stated that the revenue and forest lands were divided by fixing Janda (border stones), and that the 458 families were living in area outside the Jandas fixed by the department,' he said.
'While the CPI(M) district secretary and other ruling party leaders earlier claimed that the site is revenue land, the tehsildar's report clearly said that the area is a forest land. The Revenue department report reveals the double standard of the State government,' alleged Mr. Mani.