States » SouthPosted at: Oct 16 2026 1:24PM


ANEC Trust seeks halt to Mattupetty tourism projects over elephant habitat concerns

Kochi, Oct 16 (UNI) ANEC Trust has urged the Kerala government to halt further tourism-related construction in the Mattupetty grasslands in Munnar until an independent ecological assessment determines its potential impact on elephant habitat and wildlife movement.
The Trust has called for an immediate joint inspection by the Forest, Revenue and Tourism departments, the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) and the Idukki district administration to examine the reported development activities and ensure that the ecological integrity of the grasslands is protected.
The intervention follows reports of a watchtower being developed in the grasslands, along with a roadside ticket counter and barricaded access arrangements for tourists. The Trust said the implications of these facilities should be assessed before tourism activities are expanded further.
Located between the Munnar–Top Station Road and Mattupetty Reservoir, the grasslands provide natural forage, water and open space for wild elephants. Elephant herds, including females with young calves, reportedly frequent the area.
According to the Trust, preserving these natural feeding grounds is crucial to reducing the movement of elephants into nearby plantations, agricultural lands and human settlements in search of food and water. Disturbance to the habitat could increase encounters between people and elephants, heightening the risk of crop damage, property loss and injuries to humans, besides exposing the animals to retaliatory harm.
The organisation warned that the impact of tourism development would extend beyond the physical structures to include construction activity, increased visitor numbers, vehicular movement, noise and human presence. These factors could disrupt elephant movement, restrict access to food and water, and displace the animals from their natural habitat.
The Trust said the reported barricades and access arrangements required particular scrutiny to determine whether they could obstruct wildlife movement or compromise habitat connectivity.
It also called for consistency in the administration's approach to protecting elephant corridors and movement routes. While authorities have been taking measures against unauthorised structures and commercial obstructions affecting elephant tracks in Idukki, similar ecological concerns should be examined at Mattupetty, it said.
The Trust has appealed to the Chief Minister, Forest and Wildlife Minister, Chief Secretary, Head of Forest Force, Chief Wildlife Warden, Idukki District Collector and other concerned authorities to assess elephant usage, seasonal movement patterns, forage and water availability, and the cumulative ecological impact of tourism activities.
It has also sought verification of the project's land status, statutory permissions, required clearances and wildlife safeguards. Any obstruction found harmful to wildlife should be removed or modified in accordance with applicable law and expert recommendations.
The organisation has called for a transparent public statement on the development activities and a coordinated management plan that prioritises habitat protection. Any relevant judicial directions concerning tourism activities in nearby dam environments should also be verified against official court records, it said.
Clarifying that it does not oppose responsible tourism, the Trust maintained that tourism revenue and visitor convenience should not come at the expense of wildlife protection, ecological balance and public safety. If the proposed facilities are found incompatible with the grasslands' ecological requirements, alternative locations and less intrusive options should be considered.
“Preventing human-elephant conflict begins with protecting the places where elephants can feed, drink and move safely before they are forced into human-dominated areas,” said Adv. Santhosh T.S., lawyer-cum-legal representative of ANEC Trust.
“We cannot remove obstructions from elephant tracks in one place while permitting potentially harmful barriers in another landscape used by elephants,” he said, urging the government to intervene before irreversible damage occurs.
The Trust has demanded that further construction and expansion of tourism facilities remain suspended until the proposed inspection and ecological assessment are completed and the competent authorities take an informed decision in accordance with the law.
UNI DS
Tags: #ANEC Trust seeks halt to Mattupetty tourism projects over elephant habitat concerns
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