301 residents of the colony submitted 10 recommendations to support the development of the tribal settlement

Houses in Colony 301 near Chinnakkanal in Idukki | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A Tribal Council (Ooru Koottam) meeting held recently at Colony 301 in Chinnakkanal panchayat near Munnar – one of the areas in the state most prone to wild elephant attacks – made ten key recommendations to promote the development and long-term sustainability of the tribal settlement.

The meeting was held on November 3 in the presence of Adimaly Tribal Development Officer and the post in-charge of Tribal Rehabilitation and Development Mission (TRDM). During the discussions, residents outlined key priorities including housing, basic infrastructure, land use, agriculture and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts. Key proposals include a modern community hall with a library, a model nursery, group housing and protective fencing around the settlement to deter encroachment by wild elephants.

The council proposed building group homes on land reserved for public services, fortified with moats and fences to prevent animals from entering. It also required accommodation for beneficiaries who prefer to build on individual lots rather than build in groups. Besides, the meeting urged the Tribal Planned Development Department to supply basic amenities including electricity, paved roads, drinking water, footpaths and retaining walls and also to renovate dilapidated houses through the department’s respective schemes.

The council also urged the authorities to cancel the title deeds (pattayamas) of allottees who have not yet occupied their plots and redistribute the land to eligible landless families. Beneficiaries who had leased their land were instructed to terminate their contracts, reclaim their land and start farming. If they fail to comply, the District Collector will be asked to initiate eviction proceedings and acquire the land again.

Agricultural Cooperative Society

The council further recommended the establishment of an agricultural cooperative once all beneficiaries take possession of their plots to help market local produce. The tribal development officer said the registration procedures will begin with the election of a 15-member beneficiary committee. The Council also called for the streamlining of administrative processes in the transfer of ownership of parcels to the legal heirs of deceased title holders and the issuance of replacement deeds for lost documents.

The Tribal Development Officer reiterated that all individuals who leased allotted land must reclaim the land, cultivate it and establish permanent residence, warning that failure to comply will result in cancellation of deeds and redistribution. Colony residents agreed to reclaim the leased lands and settle permanently.

According to officials, 211 out of 301 families have already settled in the colony. The remaining 90 families were unable to build houses due to various hardships, including death in the family.

In 2002–2003, the AK Antony government allotted one acre of land to each of 301 tribal families. However, the decision has long faced criticism as the area lies in a natural corridor for elephants, making encounters with wild elephants a recurring threat to the settlement. Recently, the Forest Minister admitted that allowing human settlement in Colony 301 through natural elephant corridors in Chinnakkanal was a serious mistake by the government.

Published – 8 Nov 2026 06:38 IST