Will Mandekolu see amicable settlement?

Boundary disputes between various states are common all over India. Recently, one more place — Mandekolu between Kerala and Karnataka — has been added to the list.
The issue of a boundary dispute with minor proportions at Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada district has been in news for long time. However, no solutions have been chalked out inspite of several joint surveys being carried out by the forest and revenue officials of Karnataka and Kerala.

In Dakshina Kannada, the main issue of contention is the 5-km boundary at Mandekolu village of Sullia taluk, between Karnataka and Kerala.The traverse line, created by the Land Records Department surveyors from both Karnataka and Kerala, to demarcate the boundary way back in 1938, is in middle of the controversy.

In fact, the first survey was conducted way back in 1899. The British had declared the area as reserve forest back in 1905. In 1933, a survey was carried out by both the states. However, as the region was covered with thick forest, the survey could not be completed. Survey equipment could not be carried to the region. In this background, Kaudikana, Chakotu region in Mandekolu do not have any demarcation. Only through traverse path, the land has been demarcated between Karnataka and Kerala.

The dispute is just five kilometres of the total State boundary in Sullia taluk from Melinachakatte to Parappa river. If the survey is done, the boundary between Mandekolu village and Adoor village of Kasargod would be demarcated. There is no line of separating the two villages. Hence, the dispute has cropped out.

Sajan report
It was Kasargod Divisional Forest Officer Sajan Petre who had conducted a survey based on the request by the Kerala state government and stated that 800 acre forest land in Mandekolu, Aletti, Jalsoor and Kanakamajalu belongs to Kerala. Based on the report, the Kerala government started pressurising the district administration of Kasargod to acquire the encroached land. However, when there was stiff resistance from the villagers of Mandekolu, the Karnataka state government too started thinking of the disputed land. In fact, Kannada Development Authority former President Siddalingaiah who visited the spot two years ago, urged the State government to conduct a joint survey. There is 2,269 hectare forest land between Mandekolu and Adoor of Kasargod. Of which, 1,469 hectare is in Mandekolu and 800 hectare is in Adoor.

Recent survey
After several requests, Kasargod and DK district administration decided to conduct a joint survey on December 14. However, owing to the failure of the Kerala administration, the survey remained incomplete and the dispute continues.

Speaking to City Herald, Deputy Director of Land Records Kusumadhar said the survey has been suspended for the time being. “The revenue and forest officials of both the states only inspected the boundary and no survey was carried out,” he said.
The official said “Kerala officials did not get required data to carry out the survey. In fact, it was planned to survey from Manimoole road to Chithachakote and Mandekolu to Parappa road. As the officials failed to get the required data to feed the survey machine, we could not carry out the survey. In fact, there was no senior official representing the Kerala government in the team of officials who had come for the survey. We had extended all the support to the Kerala government. We are ready with the required data and whenever they come with the data, we are ready for the survey.”

He said Karanataka beatline is on the eastern side and the Kerala beatline is on the western side from Manimoole to Kuttipare.

“We could only carry out the physical verification of the boundary. With the physical verification, we have found that there was no encroachment of Karnataka land. We have also given scale map to the Kerala officials, who in turn have assured to speak to their higher authorities and get back to the district administration within few days.”