Wild elephants roaming the grasslands near Mattuppetty Reservoir in Munnar. | Photo credit: JOMON PAMPAVALLEY

Even as the government goes ahead with the trial run of a seaplane from Kochi to Mattupetty Dam in Munnar on Monday, the Greens have expressed concern over the project.

They say the Mattupetty Dam is a pristine wild elephant habitat and the seaplane service will disturb the wildlife in the Munnar landscape.

Environmentalist MJ Jayachandran has submitted a petition to the Chief Wildlife Warden demanding immediate termination of the Mattupetty dam project.

He said the proposed project violated the Supreme Court’s directive to safeguard national parks and ecological zones, and its continuation may attract court challenge and criminal proceedings.

He said in the petition that Mattupetty dam is a vital source of water for wild elephants and other critically endangered wildlife and the surrounding areas are part of an ecological zone protected by law.

The dam and nearby grasslands have been the prime habitat of Munnar’s wild elephants and so far no human-wildlife conflict has been reported in the area. The wild elephants in the grasslands near the dam were a major tourist attraction in Munnar, he said.

Sources in the forest department said that Idukki Collector V. Vigneswari has instructed Munnar Divisional Forest Officer and DFO to make arrangements to receive the seaplane service.

“A rapid response team led by Devikulam Range Officer will reach the spot from Mattupetty in advance to monitor the movement of wild elephants. The department will film footage of the plane and check whether the service causes any disturbance to wildlife. A report will be submitted to the collector and chief wildlife warden,” sources said.

They said more than 10 wild elephants were present in the dam area. “Wild elephants are seen crossing the dam regularly. The air service may cause disruption to their habitat and increase human-elephant conflict in Munnar,” they said.

Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine, MLA Devikualam A. Raja, former minister and MLA Udumbanchola MM Mani, among others, will receive the seaplane service at the dam.