The revenue department has asked residents excluded from the list of land owners to complete the settlement process for the Neelakurinji shrine in Vattavada. This move follows residents’ claims that 167 people were excluded from the final list of settlements.
On Thursday, the union invited residents of blocks 58 and 62 in Vattavada to submit applications. Those who have been excluded can submit their claims at the revenue office in Devikulam or Kottakamboor and Vattavada village offices by March 9. Applicants must prove that they owned the land on or before October 6, 2006.
The revenue department recently issued notices to the residents of Blocks 58 and 62 of Vattavada and Kottakamboor villages, directing them to submit ownership documents to the Devikulam sub-collector. According to officials, sub-collector VM Arya has issued notices to 452 individuals for final verification. However, a group of residents claimed they were left off that original list.
Ms. Arya said a high-level meeting held on February 11, attended by Forest Minister AK Saseendran and Revenue Minister K. Rajan, led to the decision to accept the applications of the excluded persons.
“Through this opportunity, residents can submit their claims for final settlement. Once we receive the final number of applications, we will have a clear idea of the total number of residents in the settlement process,” Ms Arya said.
Former Vattavada panchayat president K. Ramaraj welcomed the decision but pressed for more formal documentation. “Our data shows that 167 farmers have been excluded. We demand that the government issues a formal Government Order (GO) regarding this process,” Mr Ramaraj said.
Ms. Arya added that the validity of applications will be determined only after final verification. She also noted that the forest department is entitled to present its own claims during the settlement process.
The tax department has finally started the settlement process for the Neelakurinji shrine 20 years after it was first notified. In October 2006, the then Forest Minister Binoy Viswam announced the creation of a 32 sq km sanctuary in the Kottakamboor-Vattavada area of Devikulam taluk.
Published – 27 Feb 2026 20:55 IST
