Kerala Revenue Minister Classifies Cardamom Plantation Lands as Revenue Lands

Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar said cardamom plantation lands are classified as revenue lands ^[1].

This classification is a critical step in resolving long-standing jurisdictional disputes between the state revenue department and the forest department. The decision impacts land ownership and management rights within the Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR), a region where agricultural interests and environmental protections often clash.

Anilkumar said the government would take steps to resolve claims raised by the Forest department over the Cardamom Hill Reserve lands ^[1]. The move aims to provide clarity for plantation owners who have faced uncertainty regarding the legal status of their holdings.

For years, the Forest department has maintained claims over portions of the CHR, asserting that these areas fall under forest conservation mandates. By designating these as revenue lands, the government shifts the administrative framework governing the territory, a move that could limit the forest department's ability to enforce specific restrictive wildlife or forestry regulations on these private plantations.

Officials intend to coordinate with the Forest department to harmonize these conflicting claims. The resolution process is expected to address the specific boundaries and legal titles of the lands in question to prevent further litigation between the state and private landowners.

This administrative shift follows a period of tension regarding land use in Kerala's highland regions. The government's focus is now on creating a definitive legal boundary that separates protected forest zones from revenue-managed agricultural lands ^[1].