Munnar: The neelakurinji flowers, which blooms once in 12 years, have cast a mesmerising charm over the Munnar valley, drawing hundreds of tourists. However, some visitors who reach Kolukkumalai to enjoy the breath-taking beauty of the neelakurinjis in blossom, pluck the flowers and damage the shrubs. The forest department has decided to take strict action against those who pick flowers or destroy the shrubs.
Even before the onset of the neelakurinji season authorities had warned of penalties for plucking flowers. It is a punishable offence to destroy or smuggle the neelakuririnji shrubs that grow in the forests along the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Offences like these would invite imprisonment, besides a hefty fine.
The officials say that a case would be registered as per the Wildlife Protection Act. Trespassing into the forest areas and smuggling neelakurinji shrubs would invite fine and imprisonment up to 3 -5 years.
The neelakurinji has bloomed in abundance, especially at Kolukkumalai. The forests and hills at Kolukkumalai are maintained by the forest development corporation, and they manage the tourism activities here. Though hundreds of tourists visit Kolukkumalai every day, the corporation hasn’t taken any measure to ensure security at the area, and to keep a watch over the shrubs so that people wouldn’t destroy and smuggle them.
