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The Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samiti has alleged that the caller decease of 46-year-old Jessi successful a chaotic elephant onslaught astatine Meppadi Kalladi was a nonstop effect of unregulated tourism.
At a gathering held successful Kalpetta connected Friday (May 29, 2026), the samiti members said the recurring human-wildlife conflicts successful Mundakkai, Chooralmala and adjacent areas stemmed from amerciable construction. They besides accused people’s representatives and governmental parties of attempting to deflect nationalist choler done impermanent measures alternatively of imperishable solutions.
The committee demanded ₹50 lakh arsenic compensation for the deceased’s household and sought a occupation for 1 of her dependents either astatine the grama panchayat bureau oregon the Collectorate. It besides urged that the compensation beryllium paid from the gross generated by ecotourism centres nether the Forest department.
The samiti said amerciable onshore transfers and unregulated tourism activities proceed unabated successful the upland ranges adjacent aft the devastating Puthumala landslide successful 2019, starring to terrible biology degradation and disruption of wildlife habitats.
The samiti demanded the demolition of amerciable hillside structures, a prohibition connected off-road driving, and the closure of ecotourism operations tally by the wood section to forestall much deaths. It said the protests would proceed until the demands are met. The samiti office-bearers N. Badusha and Thomas Ambalavayal besides spoke.
