Rudra Vanam plan to be reviewed
The Kerala state government asked the state legislative committee on environment to look into the proposed building of multi-storied buildings, shopping complexes and helipads close to Sabarimala -- a hill-shrine in the Western Ghats rainforests -- by the former. The Committee, headed by the former state minister of forests, K P Noorudeen, submitted its Interim Report on August 8, 1995. The project, said the report, was drawn up hastily and violated the ethos of the forest temple. The Committee suggested an alternative plan causing minimum damage to the forest cover. Chief minister, A K Antony, however, was non-committal and wanted a discussion with the forest minister, Kadavoor Sivadasan. But the chief secretary, forests, R Ramachandran Nair -- the architect of the 'Rudra Vanam Project' -- maintained that the Union ministry of environment and forests (MEF) would take a decision after evaluating the matter which is lying with the ministry since July 1993. An MEF team had visited the area in late August.
As of now, the 777 sq km Periyar Tiger Reserve which encloses the Sabarimala hills, may still protect its rainforests, and myriad wildlife including its tigers, leopards, elephants, and sambhars from modernity's onslaughts.