Kottiyoor:  In an abrupt move, the Forest and Revenue Departments on Tuesday conducted a joint inspection to identify forest land reportedly under the possession of farmers at Panniyam Mala.

As part of the inspection, a team of officials led by Kottiyoor Range Officer T Nidhin Raj, Deputy Tehsildar Biji John, and Kottiyoor Village Officer Shaji Mathew visited the area near the new bridge across the Bavli River in Mandamchery. The team,, which had arrived without prior notice, inspected the properties of two farmers but soon returned, following a decision that scientists from the Kerala Forest Research Institute and Kerala Agricultural University should also be part of the process. It is, however, yet to be decided when the inspections will resume. 

The Revenue Department informed that the inspection followed a request from the Forest Department. However, the planned inspections are being conducted on properties that had been surveyed several years ago, and follow-up proceedings had already reached their final stages.

Farmers holding land for over 75 years
A majority of land lying in this area has been in the possession of farmers for around 75 years, primarily as farmland. On one side of the Panniyam Mala stream, which flows into the Bavli River, lie land holdings of farmers, while on the other side stretches the Kottiyoor forests.

As many as 97 families from the Palchuram Ghat Road to Panniyam Mala in Kottiyoor Panchayat are due to receive title deeds for the land in their possession, in addition to families residing in the Unnathis settlements and areas such as Ambayathodu Town.

An earlier government order stipulated that lands possessed by settler families before January 1, 1977, should be granted title deeds. The Forest Department, however, has raised objections, as it operates teak plantations on significant portions of this area. Meanwhile the remaining areas have been classified as vested forest.

The Forest Department maintains that inspections are being carried out as part of the process of issuing title deeds to over 35 families in the Panniyam Mala area, which falls within the vested forest zone.

Since 2011, areas including Ambayathodu Town have been part of a wildlife reserve, which has complicated the issuance of title deeds to households in the region. Officials argue that lands held by farmers on the opposite banks of the river and stream, which lie outside the designated forest area, may also include forest land. They claim that this became evident during a verification of land survey numbers and now cites the same as the reason for a re-inspection.

Meanwhile, there are also plans to cut down the teak plantations and expand the wildlife reserve to cover these areas as well. The Forest Department is also attempting to classify lands, which are considered encroached by the department but recognised as settler lands by the Revenue Department, using the age of trees and crops for assessment.

However, the forest boundary markers (jenda) are located on the opposite banks of the river and stream. The hurried attempt at re-examination during the election season has sparked controversy.