Villagers accuse Kerala of encroaching TN land

Theni (PTI): Yet another inter-state dispute involving Tamil Nadu and its neighbours appear to be brewing with local body officials and erstwhile zamindars of three villages in this district accusing Kerala of 'encroaching' a site, believed to have been visited by Lord Rama, and converting it into a tourist spot.

The Kerala Tourism department had installed a 50-feet tall statue of "Adhivasis" (tribal couple with a baby) at the site, Ramarkal Mettu, and was also collecting money from tourists for visiting the place, according to Appaji Rajkumar, erstwhile Zamindar of Kombai.

Ramkumar says he possessed "copper plate documents", to prove that Ramarkal Mettu belonged to Tamil Nadu. He wondered how Tamil Nadu forest department allowed Kerala to construct the statue in "our territory and earn revenue".

A foreset official, however, said the department had raised objections when Kerala began work on the statue some three years ago itself. The site, situated six km from Kombai, belonged to reserve forest area of Tamil Nadu, he said.

But at that time Tamil Nadu officials did not have survey documents. "Now that we have the documents we have again conveyed our objections to the Kerala Government," he said.

Ramarkal Mettu is considered a sacred place for the Hindus as it was here, according to the legend, Lord Rama performed the last rites for the bird "Jatayu", killed after a fight with Ravana to save Sita while she was being abducted by him to Lanka. Red stones symbolic of blood stains of Jatayu can seen in the area even today.

Tamil Nadu is already involved in disputes with Karnataka over sharing of Cauvery waters and Hogenakkal Drinking Water project besides Periyar Dam issue with Kerala and row over a check dam across Palar by Andhra Pradesh.

Courtesy- The Hindu