Plantation corporation’s continued possession of over 3,900 ha of lease-expired forestland ‘unauthorised,’ Kerala Forest department tells CEC

Published 2 August 2026 · india

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) constituted by the Supreme Court has sought a detailed response from the Kerala Forest department on allegations of the continued

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) constituted by the Supreme Court has sought a detailed response from the Kerala Forest department on allegations of the continued occupation and commercial use of more than 3,900 hectares of lease-expired Reserved Forest (RF) by the Plantation Corporation of Kerala Ltd. (PCK), including for pineapple cultivation by private parties. During a hearing on July 20, 2026, on a petition filed by T.J. Krishnan, president of the Ecological Conservation Society, North Paravur, the Kerala Forest department apprised the CEC that the land concerned was “lease-expired RF lands” and that PCK’s continued possession of the land and plantation operations were “unauthorised.” The petitioner alleged that the PCK continues to occupy and use large tracts of RF land despite the expiry of lease and that portions of it had been leased, subleased, licensed or otherwise allotted to private farmers for pineapple cultivation, adversely affecting wildlife habitats and elephant movement corridors.

The petition sought directions to examine the legality of the continued occupation of the lease-expired RF land, conduct an independent field inspection of the Kalady Group Plantations and adjoining elephant movement areas, investigate the reported allotment of land to private parties, and assess the ecological impact of pineapple cultivation, fencing and land-modification activities. The society further urged restoration of damaged forest areas, removal of solar fences and other barriers restricting elephant movement, suspension of further pineapple cultivation and related land-development activities, and preparation of a scientifically informed habitat restoration and wildlife corridor management plan. The petitioner has also sought the cancellation of a government order dated April 2, 2025, which permits pineapple cultivation in the lease-expired RF land. During the hearing, Deepak Mishra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) (Forest Management), Kerala, clarified the Forest department’s position before the CEC.

As per the submissions recorded by the CEC, the Forest department stated that portions of the land had been leased, subleased, licensed or otherwise allotted to private parties for pineapple cultivation. It further submitted that pineapple cultivation, fencing and related activities had adversely affected wildlife movement, habitat connectivity, soil stability, water resources and the ecological integrity of the area. The Forest department informed the committee that 3,902.80 ha. (9,644.02 acres) of forestland—3,666.43 ha. in Malayattoor-Idiyara RF and 236.37 ha. in Kodassery RF—had been leased to PCK for 50 years under various government orders issued between 1961 and 1966. A lease deed was executed between the Chief Conservator of Forests and the Managing Director of the PCK on July 9, 1971. The leased forestland falls under three forest divisions, comprising around 2,450 ha in Vazhachal, 1,211 ha in Malayattoor and 239 ha in Chalakudy.