Greens slam move to redevelop Aluva-Kothamangalam-Munnar road

“It will sound death knell for evergreen dense forests along stretch”

The moves afoot to redevelop the old Aluva-Kothamangalam-Thattekkad-Munnar road, to lessen the distance between Ernakulam and Munnar, has been welcomed by residents of the area, even as it has attracted flak from environmentalists who say that this would prove death knell for the evergreen dense forests and allied ecosystems en route. The corridor, which was once the only way to access Munnar, was built by erstwhile kings of Travancore. It was abandoned following the devastating floods of 1924 and the Department of Forests took over considerable parts of the corridor, especially areas in Idukki district. The existing road through Neriamangalam and the hairpin curves that lead to Munnar was subsequently developed.