<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kalpetta:The Wayanad Nature Conservation Committee has strongly urged immediate intervention by the Forest Department and local panchayat authorities to stop the illegal cutting and transportation of bamboo groves along the stream banks in Thodarakudi regions, especially in Vythiri, Meppadi, and Thondarnad panchayats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the committee, a mafia network from Kannur district has set up base in Wayanad and is smuggling thousands of metric tonnes of Ottakadu bamboo. Allegations have emerged that certain panchayat officials and forest department staff are accepting bribes to facilitate the illegal trade. Some senior forest officers and political figures are reportedly aiding the mafia, with threats being issued to those who resist their operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bamboo groves in question grow along both banks of the fast-flowing mountain streams originating from the steep eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. These regions receive up to 7000 mm of annual rainfall, making the bamboo forests vital in preventing landslides and mitigating the effects of floods. During the devastating floods of 2018 and 2019, studies by Vythiri Panchayat documented that these bamboo clusters played a crucial role in protecting the riverbanks from erosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond flood protection, these streamside bamboo ecosystems also help preserve water quality and temperature, while serving as breeding grounds for many rare fish and wildlife species, thereby supporting the delicate riparian biodiversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite legal provisions that require prior approval from the Kerala State Biodiversity Board for the commercial use of biological resources, these bamboo cuttings are being carried out in blatant violation of the law. Under Section 41(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, Vythiri Panchayat has officially banned bamboo harvesting. Ironically, this is the very area where the highest level of illegal cutting is reportedly taking place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Nature Conservation Committee has submitted formal complaints to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Forest Vigilance PCCF, demanding an immediate halt to the operations, a thorough investigation, and stringent action against those responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The committee meeting was chaired by Thomas Ambalavayal, with speeches by N. Badusha, Babu Mailampadi, M. Gangadharan, P.M. Suresh, and A.V. Manoj.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kalpetta:The Wayanad Nature Conservation Committee has strongly urged immediate intervention by the Forest Department and local panchayat authorities to stop the illegal cutting and transportation of bamboo groves along the stream banks in Thodarakudi regions, especially in Vythiri, Meppadi, and Thondarnad panchayats. According to the committee, a mafia network from Kannur district has set up…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wayanad"],"yoast_head":"\n