KATTAPPANA: The Forest Department will take the initiative to develop Edamalakudy, the first tribal grama panchayat in the State, with a Rs. 97 lakh project for developing infrastructure.
Since Edamalakudy is part of the forest area, an empowerment committee with various department officials as members will be formed to co-ordinate the utilisation of funds allotted by various departments. Explaining the features of the works to be taken up in the initial stage, Munnar Divisional Forest Officer S.G.Maheshkumar said that a major focus of the project will be on cardamom cultivation, the main cash product of the tribals.
He said that a meeting in this regard was convened by Forest Minister Benoy Viswom in Thiruvananthapuram recently and it was attended by people's representative and officials of forest department. An amount of Rs. 45 lakh will be spent for treatment of cardamom, its procurement and marketing to get maximum benefits for the tribals. The Vana Samrakshana Samithy (VSS) will procure cardamom and Rs. 12 lakh has been earmarked for constructing stores and other related facilities. The forest products collected by the tribals will be marketed through the Vanasree network and the VSS will act as a medium for collecting and marketing the product.
The Forest road connecting Munnar to Edamalakudy is nearing completion and the forest department will purchase two jeeps for conducting the services. Vehicles from outside the tribal area will not be allowed.
Source:Hindu, 28-7-2010
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