The Kerala High Court has directed state forest authorities to formulate and present a comprehensive plan by August 5 for the restoration and maintenance of an 18-kilometer forest road, which serves as the sole access route for an isolated tribal community in Ernakulam district.
A division bench consisting of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M issued the order while hearing a public interest litigation. The petition requested government intervention to upgrade the existing rough terrain connecting Pooyamkutty to the Uriyempetty tribal colony in Kuttampuzha panchayat into a concrete motorable road.
Addressing the urgency of the situation, the court remarked that the Forest Department had shown a lack of sensitivity toward the difficulties faced by the tribal residents living within the forest area. The bench emphasized that the matter must be treated with extreme urgency.
Inter-Agency Coordination Mandated
The court further noted that constructing and maintaining a proper motorable road is necessary not only for the local population but also for forest officials to fulfill their duties under the Kerala Forest Act.
To resolve the issue, the bench stated that the Forest Department holds the responsibility to work in consultation with the Tribal Development Department and other relevant stakeholders. Authorities have been instructed to place a concrete proposal before the court ahead of the next scheduled hearing on August 5.
