Idukki district collector Dinesan Cheruvatt has clarified that there is no ban on night travel or public transport in the hill district, after political parties, church representatives and farmers’ organisations protested over the interpretation of a wildlife safety advisory.
The instruction issued to plantation inspectors in Munnar, Peermade and Udumbanchola on September 28 advised people to avoid entering plantations adjoining forest areas between 6pm and 6am. According to the collector, it was intended as a safety advisory for forest-fringe plantations and was not a district-wide restriction on movement.
The clarification followed protests by the CPM, BJP, Kerala Congress (M), the Idukki diocese and farmers’ organisations. Protest programmes included a march to the collectorate. The organisations had argued that an advisory restricting access to plantations during night hours could affect plantation workers, residents, tourism employees and the wider movement of people in the district.
The collector said the instruction was aimed at reducing the risk of encounters with wild animals that may remain hidden in plantations during night-time and periods of poor visibility. Residents in Idukki have reported the movement of elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, gaurs and wild boars from plantation and shrub-covered areas towards settlements.
The issue is particularly significant because many plantations are located close to forest boundaries. Farmers’ organisations claimed that about 90% of plantations are situated along such boundaries and said broad restrictions could affect a large section of the population. They have called for safety measures that target specific wildlife-prone locations without disrupting normal movement and livelihoods.
Eucalyptus and pine plantations in Munnar and Peermade, along with shrublands and areas outside notified forests, have also been identified as locations where wildlife presence has been reported. Mattupetty and Ikkanagar were among the places mentioned in connection with such sightings.
Tourism promoters in Munnar and Peermade had expressed concern that a general interpretation of the advisory could affect visitors, employees travelling to and from hotels and resorts, and night-time transport services. Critics said advisories should be directed at identified wildlife-prone locations rather than being understood as a restriction covering the entire district.
The collector has advised the public to follow warnings issued during red and orange alerts, as well as specific instructions from the forest department and rapid response teams when wild animals enter inhabited areas. He said human-wildlife conflict incidents in Idukki had killed 81 people and injured 486 over the past 10 years.
