The Union Ministry for Environment and Forests has agreed "in principle" to consider the Kerala Government's request for release of vested forest land in the State for redistribution among landless tribals whose agitation for land took a violent turn this February in the Muthanga area of Wayanad district. An assurance to this effect was secured by the Kerala Chief Minister, A.K. Anthony after he sought the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's intervention in this regard.