MUNNAR:
The Kerala Government has declared a sanctuary, comprising of the habitat of
neelakurinji in the Kottakamboor and Vattavada villages in Idukki
district of the State.
The formation of the sanctuary will help the protection of
kurinji and its habitat (shola forests), which is rich in flora and
fauna.
The Government notification said that the sanctuary would ensure the
long-term protection of the entire biodiversity of the area, especially
Strobilanthes kunthiana and its habitat. Private land holdings having
titles would be excluded from the sanctuary area.
The new sanctuary is contiguous to the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Anamudi and Pampadum Shola National Parks.
Neelakurinji Fest concludes
MUNNAR:
The Neelakurinji Fest, organised by the Department of Forests and
Tourism in celebration of the mass flowering of kurinji, concluded at
Munnar on October 9.
The festival featured an exhibition of photographs of kurinji flowers
and its habitat, cultural programmes including that of Todas of
the Nilgiris, Seminar on protection of kurinji, Poets' Meet and other
programmes. However, heavy rain was a dampner to the three-day
festival. The most important even of the Fest was the declaration of
the Kurinjimala Sanctuary.
Kurinjimala Sanctuary Declared
MUNNAR:
The Neelakurinji Fest, organised by the Department of Forests and
Tourism in celebration of the mass flowering of kurinji, concluded at
Munnar on October 9.