The Forest and Wildlife Department has temporarily closed the official trekking route at the ecotourism spot at Paithalmala in Kannur in view of the forest fire incident in the Bodi hills of Theni district in Tamil Nadu.
Paithalmala, a hill station located 65 km from here, is a popular ecotourism spot in the district run by the Forest and Wildlife Department. Paithalmala being the only official trekking route in the district, the department organises trekking for nature enthusiasts visiting the hill station.
As per the direction from the department headquarters in the wake of the forest fire tragedy in the Bodi hills, forest officials here decided to close the Paithalmala trekking route till the forest fire season is over.
“The fire season usually starts from January and mostly lasts till the end of April,” Divisional Forest Officer Sunil Pameedi told The Hindu when contacted.
Forest fire breaks out during this dry season, he said, adding there were no spike in the incidents of forest fire in the district over the years.
More careful now
“We are more careful in the wake of the incidents in the Theni district,” he said.
In January, there was an incident of forest fire in a small patch of grassland at Paithalmala. The fire was immediately doused by the Forest Department’s fire gang posted there.
The department also has a watchtower at the hill station.
Forest officials are concerned about the use of illegal trekking routes by people without the department’s permission.
Illegal route
A forest gang was deployed at Palukachimala in the Kottiyur area, which some people use for trekking though it is an illegal trekking route.
Another illegal trekking spot is Vazhamala in the Kannavam reserve forest here.
Since there were more than one access to these spots, forest personnel cannot be expected to stop their entry, the officials said.
