Sabari rail project: Sacred groves to make way

KOCHI: Even while the government is busy adopting measures to protect the sacred groves (kavu) in the State, the Railways is all set to do away with around 10 groves in the district for the Sabari Rail project. Recently, the district administration held a meeting with 10 landowners in the Angamaly-Perumbavoor region in connection with evicting people for the rail project.

The district administration has identified four sacred groves to be removed for the project and a nod for this has been received from the landowners.

“The four land owners have agreed to clear their ancestral groves at a cost of Rs 75,000 each. A ‘pooja’ will be performed to shift their respective groves,” a highly placed Revenue officer said. A meeting will be held with the landowners where other groves are  situated.

Interestingly, the Railways is paying money only for shifting the groves and not as remuneration for the evictees., the official said.

The State Government had bought 28 ‘kavus’ belonging to Devaswoms and various Trusts, under a Centrally sponsored scheme ‘Intensification of Forest Management-Protection and Conservation of Sacred Groves’ on March 23 here. The scheme was launched as a part of protecting the ecosystem and environment.

Forest Minister Benoy Viswom promised to consider the setting up of more ‘Kavus’ across the State within two years. The Central Goverment has released Rs 13.2 lakh for the scheme.