In August 2024, a section of the Chokramudy hills under the Bison Valley panchayat made headlines following large-scale encroachment and illegal constructions on government land. Today, those very slopes — once targeted by land grabbers — are witnessing a fresh bloom of the famed Neelakurinji flowers.

Following reports of encroachment in 2024, local people in Bison Valley had formed the Chokramudy Protection Council and launched widespread protests, resulting in the government reclaiming most of the land. Byju C.B., a member of the council, says that the reclaimed hills are now seeing a revival of the Neelakurinji. “We expect the hills to be fully covered with flowers soon. The council members will visit shortly to inspect the blooming. The hills are flowering again because of the tireless protests waged by the local people to save this fragile ecosystem,” he said.

Residents had previously feared there would be no bloom this season due to the extensive destruction caused by encroachment. Botanist and Neelakurinji expert Jomy Augustine confirmed the blooming on the slopes. “Unless the root systems are completely destroyed, the plants will continue to bloom on schedule. Across the encroached areas, plants that escaped total destruction will bloom shortly,” he said.

Trouble begins

According to residents, the issue began in August 2024 when a person from Adimaly acquired 14.69 acres of ecologically fragile land on Chokramudy and attempted to sell it by dividing it into over 60 commercial plots. The encroachers built an unauthorised road, felled numerous trees, and constructed a check-dam on the hillside, triggering protests downstream.

The State government subsequently constituted two Special Investigation Teams (SITs). Acting on their findings, the Revenue department cancelled the title deeds for 13.69 acres in March 2025 and reclaimed the land. By March 2026, the regenerated landscape had also re-emerged as a habitat for the endangered Nilgiri tahr.

Land tax collection

Recent concerns arose after the Kerala High Court permitted the collection of land tax on two acres of the disputed land following a petition filed by three Munnar residents. Local people raised alarm that the land might slip back into private hands, though revenue officials dismissed these fears.

Devikulam Subcollector V.M. Arya clarified that the court’s order was strictly conditional. “The court only allowed the payment of land tax under specific conditions; it has not granted land ownership to the petitioners. An appeal is currently pending before the District Collector, and the government will take legal steps,” she said. The Forest department has announced that the Chokramudy hills will be open to the public from August 24.

Published - August 21, 2026 07:20 pm IST