IDUKKI, the hindu, april 1 2025
Fifty years ago, the Eravikulam National Park (ENP), the pristine habitat of the Nilgiri tahr in Munnar, was almost lost to land redistribution. But an unusual backroom deal, sealed over wagons of rice, changed its fate forever.
On March 31, the park celebrated the golden jubilee of its declaration as the Eravikulam-Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary. It was after a silent movement by a group of people that Eravikulam was declared a protected area. The sanctuary was created in 1975 to protect the Nilgiri tahr and it was named ENP in 1978.
According to records, around 1975, the government decided to give land to landless people. But the then Kanan Devan Hills Plantations managers J.C. Godsbery, Samar Singh and K.N. Chenkappa intervened and called Union government Secretary M.K. Ranjith Sinh to Munnar. After the visit, Mr. Sinh submitted a report to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In his book A Life with Wildlife – From Princely India to Present, Mr. Sinh said, “Indira Gandhi wrote a letter to the then Kerala Chief Minister C. Achutha Menon requesting him to declare the area a national park. The matter, however, was in limbo, with the State government remaining indecisive for fear of a political fallout.”
The book further describes how a rice deal resulted in the declaration of the park. “Minister of State for Food Anna Shaheb Shinde temporarily assumed additional responsibility for the portfolio of Forests and Wildlife. One day, he asked me if any forest-related issues were pending in Kerala and told me that Kerala Minister Baby John was arriving for a meeting. I told him about the Eravikulam issue and he asked me to join the meeting,” said the book.
40 wagons of rice
“During the meeting, Baby John informed him about the shortage of rice in Kerala and sought 40 rail wagons of rice. With a disarming smile, Shinde offered 25 wagons of rice and enquired about the national park declaration. Baby John, returning the smile, said that the State was actively considering the declaration... In the end, 36 wagons of rice were agreed upon in exchange for the protection of the sanctuary... Today, this exchange resembles a fanciful tale. But it did happen,” narrated the book.
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