Cabinet approves buffer zone for Silent Valley

 
The Cabinet approved a proposal for the formation of a buffer zone for Silent Valley National Park on Wednesday. The zone will bind the Park on all sides except the north where it is contiguous with the Mukkurthi National Park of Tamil Nadu. The total area of the buffer zone will be about 148 sq.km; carved out from Attappady, Mannarkkad and Kalikavu forest ranges of Kerala.

Forest Minister Binoy Viswom said the zone would only have reserve forest status. A new range, Bhavani Forest Range would be formed to take care of 94sq.km. There would be two forest stations under that range at Anavai and Thudukki. The remaining 54 sq.km would be brought under the existing Silent Valley Range of the National Park. Mr.Viswom said the Department had sought 59 additional hands to protect the area. The Cabinet had sanctioned 35 posts, 15 of which were to be filled by redeployment.

    (The Hindu,7th  June  2007)