Kochi: KCBC has assessed that the cabinet meeting held the other day failed to resolve concerns of the people on the buffer zone issue. The Council has concluded that the state government has not taken a sympathetic decision towards the demand of delimiting the buffer zone within the forest boundary.

A meeting of the representatives of farmers' organizations has been called at Palarivattam POC on Sunday at 3 pm to discuss the further course of action in this matter. Cardinal Mar George Alencherry will inaugurate the meeting.

KCBC stated that the government should take necessary action to resolve the concerns of the people by completely withdrawing the 2019 cabinet decision regarding the buffer zone. The new cabinet decision will be a setback for the people in the future. What is needed is to redefine the forest boundary and establish a buffer zone within the forest itself.

The objections received against the draft notification issued by the central government including the residential areas around the 23 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks of the state should be considered. There exists a dispute between the people of the hilly areas and the forest department regarding attack of wild animals and poaching issues.

KCBC has observed that under such circumstances, making the Forest Department responsible for further actions and fighting legal battle on the buffer zone issue will increase the concerns.