Estate charges them ₹100 to use the only motorable route

Residents of seven tribal hamlets near Kunjapanai in Kotagiri have alleged that a private tea estate is charging them a fee for using a stretch of the road laid by estate owners.

L. Balan, an Irular tribesman residing in Semmanarai village, said even if the tribals want to bring a vehicle to carry their goods to the market, the estate charges them up to ₹100 to use the road.

“This is the only road with which we can access the villages, while the others are mud roads where vehicles cannot enter,” said Mr. Balan. The road is the only motorable route to the villages of Melkoopu, Kilkoopu, Attadi, Daalamokai, Kolithotai and Semmanarai.

Speaking to The Hindu, Revenue Department officials said the ‘right of access’ belonged to locals regardless of whether the road belonged to the private estate. The residents have been highlighting the issue to the district administration for many years, but have not found any relief.

S. Krishnammal, the former panchayat president of Kunjapanai, said she had brought the issue to the notice of the Collector. “The estate road is around 1.5-km-long, and connects to a road laid by the panchayat. Many residents have to fork out money to even take construction materials to the seven villages,” she said.

P. Chinthamani, another resident, said tribal residents who live here, mostly work as farm labourers and daily wage workers.

She said a trip to Semmanarai village from the main road is around 6-km-long, and jeep drivers charge ₹300 for the trip. She added taking a jeep to the villages would become affordable if vehicles were not charged at the road entrance.

K. Veerappan, an Adivasi rights activist working in the Nilgiris, said the ‘toll’ being charged by the estate owners was unethical and a violation of the rights of the tribal people who had been living in the region for many centuries before the tea estate came up. “The administration should either get the issue sorted out, or make alternative arrangements, like laying new roads, but without disturbing the pristine forests in the area which are home to many species of animals and birds, including Great Indian Hornbill,” he said.

Manager’s stand

Maathan, the estate manager, said a fee was levied only on “outside vehicles” that did not belong to villagers.

District Revenue Officer T. Baskarapandi said an inquiry into the issue would be initiated and action would be taken.