2 days ago
For five tribal settlements in Munnar, proper road is a distant dream
In a stark reminder of the brutal realities faced by indigenous communities, L. Gandhi Ammal, a tribal woman from the remote Valsapettykudy tribal settlement in Anamudi Shola National Park under the Munnar Wildlife Division, writhed in pain for hours with no ambulance in sight — because there is no proper road. Injured on the way to the MGNREGS work, she was finally carried to the nearest hospital in Marayur on a bamboo stretcher by over 50 fellow tribespeople, trudging six kilometres through treacherous terrain. This ordeal unfolds as monsoon rains leave nearly 330 Muthuvan tribal families in five settlements cut off from basic services, trapped in isolation by the government's failure to build a proper road.
According to Idukki block panchayat member C. Rajendran, there is a motorable road from Vattavada to Chilanthiyar and from Ollavayalkudy to Marayur. Between Chilanthiyar and Ollavayalkudy, which is a 13-km stretch, there are tribal settlements such as Valsapettykudy, Moolavallikudy, Vayaltharakudy, Swamiyaralakudy, and Koodallarkudy which are struggling for want of a proper road. One has to travel 103 kilometres to reach these settlements through the Munnar-Marayur route.
Former Vattavada grama panchayat president R. Ramaraj alleged that officials from the Munnar wildlife division were obstructing the road construction intended for tribal settlements. 'People's representatives and local people tried to build a motorable road on the 13-kilometre stretch, but the Forest department opposed it. The five tribal settlements were isolated in the heavy rainfall. If the tribespeople need to visit other settlements, they must either walk several kilometres or travel over 100 kilometres via the Munnar route,' according to Mr. Ramaraj.
Sources said the government had allotted ₹18.5 crore for the construction of a road connecting Chilanthiayar-Ollavayal through Valsapettykudy. 'However, the Forest department mandated that permission be obtained through the Parivesh portal for the road's construction. The funds were then redirected to another project,' they said.
Mr. Rajendran said that due to the absence of a proper road, children in the five settlements had to be shifted to hostels at the age of five to attend school. 'If we construct a proper road, the children can live with families and reach the school through the government-arranged Vidyavahini project,' he said.
Forest dept. version
Meanwhile, Munnar Wildlife Warden K.V. Harikrishnan said the construction of a proper road connecting to the settlements would require 3.5 hectares of forestland. 'The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) can provide one hectare of land for development activities. If more land is needed, the user agency of the project should submit an application to MoEF through the Parivesh portal for permission. The Forest department will not oppose the road construction,' said Mr. Harikrishnan.
