Entry of off-road vehicles, tourists without prior permission banned at Chokramudy revenue land

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The Revenue department on Saturday banned the entry of unauthorised off-road vehicles on revenue land at Chokramudy, under Bison Valley village near Munnar in Keralam.

According to officials, the blooming of Neelakurinji on the Chokramudy hills has been drawing thousands of tourists to the area. The region, falling under Survey No. 36, is a land that was reclaimed from encroachers in 2025 and is currently under government possession. Neelakurinji flowers have bloomed across these reclaimed areas.

Following the opening of the hills to visitors by the Forest department on August 24, a large number of off-road vehicles entered the reclaimed revenue land so that tourists could view the flowers.

An order issued by the Bison Valley Village Officer stated that unauthorised private and off-road vehicles, as well as general visitors, were entering government land without prior permission. The order noted that this is a punishable offence under Sections 7 and 12 of the Kerala Land Conservancy Act, 1957. “In the wake of this, all entry through the revenue land is banned with immediate effect,” the order stated.

Officials warned that unregulated vehicle access through revenue land poses a serious threat to the fragile Neelakurinji plants on the hills.

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