Madayipara's fragile beauty choked by tourism

Madayipara, a unique laterite landscape in Kannur, is experiencing severe ecological distress due to unregulated tourist activities and a newly opened amusement-cum-eco park. Environmentalists and local conservation groups are raising alarms over the damage to the area's rich biodiversity, which includes rare flora and numerous bird species. The influx of vehicles, artificial lighting, and waste generation are cited as primary culprits impacting the fragile ecosystem.

The Madayipara Samarakshan Samiti has initiated protests against the eco-park, which reportedly began operations on July 31. The committee alleges the park is functioning without essential permissions, including a trade license from the Madayi grama panchayat. They have appealed to the District Collector for intervention, demanding the cessation of park activities.

This plateau, spanning 3.65 sq km, is a biodiversity hotspot, home to 670 flowering plant species, eleven insectivorous plants, and 14 threatened plant species. It also supports 258 bird species, including globally threatened ones, and a variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Conservation activists are considering pursuing a conservation reserve status for Madayipara.

Concerns are also being raised about the alteration of natural features within the park, such as a stream converted into a recreational pool, and the installation of high-mast lighting. These changes, along with increased vehicle movement and crowds, are expected to disturb the wildlife. Legal questions surrounding land ownership and the disputed territory where the park is allegedly operating have also surfaced, with a related court case pending since 2006.