Concerned over the reduction in tea area in the Nilgiris, the Tea Board has sensitised Tamil Nadu Government and planters against conversion of tea fields for other activities.
“We are examining the area reduction in detail. We are proposing to request district Collector to take necessary steps to ban the conversion of tea fields for other activities like real estate,” the Tea Board Executive Director, Mr R. Ambalavanan, told the Business Line .
He used the 58th Annual Conference of Planters' Association of Tamil Nadu (PAT) to enlist the support of the Government through the Principal Secretary, Environment and Forests, Mr C.V. Sankar, as also the planters to hold tea lands intact.
Shrinking
“According to the survey undertaken by Tea Board, tea estates occupied 17,466 hectares in the Nilgiris in 1998, but they are now only 13,820 hectares. In Coonoor taluk alone, tea area has been reduced to 2,347 hectares from 4,522 hectares. Conversion of plantation areas to real estate would be lethal to the fragile eco-system of the Nilgiris. I request the Principal Secretary to take steps to prevent such conversions and protect environment,” he urged.
Mr Sankar said, he would deliberate this with the Revenue Department keeping the critical issues in mind. “Using plantations for activities like eco-tourism can be promoted. We need practical application of laws,” he told the Business Line .
Welcoming state Government's announcement in Budget to promote eco-tourism, PAT Chairman Mr C. Shreedharan sought permission for the same to plantations as in Kerala, Assam, and West Bengal.
“To combat losses, we have been pleading for amending Land Reforms Act to allow us to use a certain percentage for non-plantation purposes,” he said.