PIL In Kerala High Court Alleges Ecological Damage From Pineapple Plantation In Athirappilly Forest Area

A public interest litigation has been moved before the Kerala High Court alleging that there are ecological threats in around 1600 acres of forest land in Athirappilly and Kallal estates due to pineapple plantation works undertaken by Plantation Corporation of India.The petitioner is this case is the Secretary of an NGO named Animal Legal Force Integration. According to him, the plantation carried out by the Corporation is under a contract entered into with the State Forest Department in 1970, but the same expired in the year 2020. Though there was a stop memo and objection issued by the department, the petitioner alleges that plantation of pineapple is still being undertaken.The plea outlines that the Athirappilly-Vazhachal area is a critical riparian ecosystem and part of an important elephant corridor. This area and the Chalakudy river are being affected by the pineapple monoculture, which involves a heavy use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Moreover, there is severe environmental impact due to soil erosion, increasing human-wildlife conflicts and loss of food and fodder, it is stated.The petitioner has further stated that he has visited the Athirappilly estate on January 30, 2026 and, has witnessed a large number of labourers planting pineapple plants and illegally burning forest trees.He has also made a case that the Corporation has encroached the banks of the Chalakudy river and has cut down a large number of trees and erected electric fencing inside the river area.In the plea, the petitioner has prayed for directions to take strict and immediate action to stop the pineapple plantation activities of the Corporation. Additionally, direction is sought against the Central and State government, the Principal Secretary of the Forest and Wildlife department, and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to recover the areas leased out to the Corporation and to convert the same to Reserved Forest.Among other prayers, the petitioner has asked for a direction for a CBI investigation into the conspiracy behind the pineapple plantation activities and the corruption behind it. Estimating Rs. 1000 crores as the damages caused due to the destruction of forest land and contamination of the Chalakkudy river, the petitioner has made a prayer for recovery of the said sum.As an interim prayer, the petitioner has prayed for a direction to stop the Corporation's pineapple plantation activities in the Athirappilly and Kallal plantation estates.Case No: WP(PIL) No. 39/2026Case Title: Angels Nair v. Union of India and Ors.

PIL In Kerala High Court Alleges Ecological Damage From Pineapple Plantation In Athirappilly Forest Area

K. Salma Jennath

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