CPI(M) calls hartal on October 24 in 7 villages of Pathanamthitta over ESA

The CPI(M) is seeking to regain lost ground in central Travancore and is trying to capitalize on concerns among settler communities in large areas over the proposed Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) notification.

After its September 16 hartal in Idukki on land-related issues, the CPI(M) will organize another hartal in seven villages in Pathanamthitta on October 24, demanding their exclusion from the Centre’s draft ESA notification, district secretary Raju Abraham said.

The hartal will cover Chittar, Seethathode, Aruvappulam and Thannithode villages in Konni taluk and Vadasserikkara, Perunad and Kollamula villages in Ranni taluk. A vehicle rally to mobilize support for the protest will tour villages in the third week of October.

Mr Abraham said if the draft notification is finalised, the residents would have to get approval from the environment authority to be set up under the Forestry Authority for activities such as farming and house building. He alleged that the Gadgil Committee report envisaged converting these areas into wildlife corridors and claimed that the villages were already being frequented by wild animals.

“The Center has set September 25 as the deadline for filing objections against its seventh draft ESA notification. Yet the state government has not sought exclusion of even a single village in Pathanamthitta, thus betraying the people of the district,” he said.

Mr. Abraham said land transactions have already stopped in the affected areas and residents could also face difficulties in acquiring land titles. “If they cannot continue their lives here, people may eventually be forced to leave their own country empty-handed,” he said.

He also accused the state government of ignoring the demands for exclusion of villages raised by religious leaders, political party workers and community organizations in the region.

The opposition campaign has put the UDF under pressure in Pathanamthitta. The ruling front says its revised proposal has already excluded populated areas and agricultural land, and that villages sharing borders with forests cannot be excluded in their entirety.

Published – 12 Oct 2026 21:19 IST