Sat Nov 09 19:11:49 UTC 2024: ## Seaplane Service to Munnar Sparks Environmental Concerns
**Munnar, November 10, 2024** – As the Kerala government prepares for the trial run of a seaplane service from Kochi to the Mattupetty dam in Munnar, environmentalists have raised serious concerns about the project’s potential impact on the region’s wildlife.
The Mattupetty dam, a vital source of water for wild elephants and other endangered species, is situated within a legally protected eco-sensitive zone. Environmentalist M.J. Jayachandran has filed a petition with the Chief Wildlife Warden demanding the project’s immediate cessation, citing the Supreme Court’s directives safeguarding national parks and eco-sensitive zones.
“The proposed seaplane service is a violation of the Supreme Court’s directives and could lead to contempt of court proceedings,” Jayachandran asserted in his petition. He further highlighted the dam and surrounding grasslands as prime habitat for wild elephants, a major tourist attraction in Munnar, and emphasized the absence of any human-wildlife conflict in the area.
The Forest Department, while acknowledging the presence of over 10 wild elephants in the dam area, has assured the public that a rapid response team will be deployed to monitor the elephants’ movements during the seaplane service. However, concerns remain regarding the potential disruption to the elephants’ habitat and the risk of increased human-elephant conflict.
The trial run of the seaplane service is scheduled to take place today, with dignitaries including Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine, Devikualam MLA A. Raja, and former Minister M.M. Mani expected to be present at the dam. The project’s impact on the delicate ecosystem of Munnar remains a subject of debate.
First Piper 