Coffee plantation cleared for leopard search without approval; Wayanad forest officer suspended

Section Forest Officer K.K. Baiju has been suspended pending an inquiry after a coffee plantation was allegedly cleared in Chooralmala, within Kerala’s Meppadi forest range in Wayanad district.

Baiju was leading a team deployed in Meppadi for search and preventive operations after a leopard was spotted in the Chooralmala area. During the operation, the team allegedly cut down around one acre of coffee plantation.

According to the Forest Department, the plantation was cleared without prior permission or an order from either the Meppadi Range Forest Officer or the South Wayanad Divisional Forest Officer.

The department also said no notice had been issued to the farmer before the plantation was cleared.

The incident has drawn particular concern because the affected farmers were survivors of the Chooralmala disaster and depended on their coffee plantation for their livelihood.

Department initiates disciplinary action

The Forest Department has taken a serious view of the alleged action and initiated disciplinary proceedings against Baiju.

Authorities said further steps would be taken to recover from the officer any financial losses caused to the department and the affected farmers through the alleged illegal action.

The authorities also said such conduct towards members of the public and farmers would not be allowed.