Conserve green cover, NGO writes to HMT

KOCHI: Cochin Natural History Society (CNHS), a non-profit organization, has written to Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) general technical manager requesting to take steps to conserve urban forest-like green cover on its Kalamassery campus.
The letter has been sent in the wake of reckless eco-vandalism on the wooded property early this week by a film crew, who allegedly used earth movers to flatten the earth and felled small trees and cut undergrowth to make space for creating a film set.
Thanking the company for maintaining the wooded property, CNHS secretary Vishnu Priyan Kartha said the green cover comprises diverse habitats such as evergreen forest, shrubs and wetlands. Also, researchers and bird watchers had identified around 200 species of birds at the spot.
“The area is also rich in flora and fauna. This green cover coupled with wetlands has also protected the water table of Kalamassery from going down…,” the letter said.
There are wells in Kalamassery, which supply drinking water to Kochi city, and the green cover has helped in maintaining a lower atmospheric temperature level in Kalamassery.
“The state forest department has also recognized the bird diversity of Kalamasssery by releasing a poster mentioning 191species of birds, including endangered species,” the letter said.
Expressing concern over cutting down fully grown trees and levelling the land by the film crew, the letter said as per Wildlife Protection Act 1972, most of the birds were listed in under scheduled category and any offence towards listed species, habitat and nesting is considered as hunting and punishable even if it occurs in a private land.
Further, there has been many wildfires at HMT Estate in recent time necessitating intervention of fire force and people have to exercise caution while working there. However, workers in the film set were seen smoking and using electric cutting tools.
The crew, including artists, were engaged in building a ruined temple in the property for ‘Mamangam’, a period drama with actor Mammootty in the lead.
Meanwhile, the film’s director, M Padmakumar, denied the allegation and said they had cleared only the undergrowth.