The fragile ecosystem of Madayipara in Kannur is facing a significant threat from unregulated tourism, particularly due to the operations of a newly opened amusement-cum-eco park. Environmentalists warn that the influx of visitors is wreaking havoc on the region's unique biodiversity, which includes rare flora and a variety of endemic wildlife.
Since its opening on July 31, park has drawn a substantial number of visitors,leading to increased vehicle traffic, artificial lighting,and littering in the area. The Madayipara Samarakshan Samiti,a local conservation group,has raised alarms about the park operating without necessary permissions, including a trade license from the Madayi grama panchayat. The committee is now ramping up its protests against park and plans to disrupt an art program scheduled for Saturday.
Madayipara is 3.65-square-kilometer laterite plateau that boasts an impressive array of biodiversity, housing 670 species of flowering plants, 14 of which are classified as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The area is also home to 258 bird species,including 10 that are globally threatened,alongside numerous mammals, reptiles,amphibians, and butterflies.
Concerns about the park's impact are echoed by zoologist Muhamed Jafer Palot from the Zoological Survey of India . He notes that the plateau is ill-equipped to handle the surge in visitors. “Recently,more than 300 vehicles were parked on the rocky terrain . Areas that used to attract birds are now crowded with people and cars,” he stated. Palot added that rare seasonal plants are being uprooted as soon as they sprout, which poses a long-term threat to the ecosystem.
In light of these developments,conservation activists are exploring legal avenues to secure a conservation reserve status for Madayipara. C.V. Balakrishnan, chairman of the protest committee, criticized park's operators for altering the natural landscape by converting a stream into a recreational pool and installing high-mast lighting. He emphasized that such changes disrupt habitat for birds that roost and breed in the area.
K.P. Chandraganthan,secretary of Samiti, pointed out that High Court orders have previously highlighted need to protect Madayipara and limit activities that could harm its ecological integrity. He also raised concerns about the ownership of the land where the park is situated, noting that while large portions of Madayipara belong to the Madayi Thiruvarkattukavu Devaswom,historical transactions have muddied land records.
A legal dispute regarding ownership of a 10-acre area has been ongoing since 2006, the manager of the temple devaswom. Meanwhile,Madayi panchayat president Sathyabhama B. confirmed that the panchayat has not granted permission for the park's operation. She clarified that while the building associated with park received approval as a “special residential” structure, no license has been issued for the amusement park itself.
The situation at Madayipara serves as a critical reminder of the delicate balance between tourism and environmental conservation. As local authorities and activists grapple with the implications of the park's operations,the future of this ecologically rich area hangs in the balance .
