In a first for the State, the Forest department has embraced the latest mobile phone-linked digital surveillance technology to protect the sandalwood forests in Marayur.
According to Forest officials, the department has established a mobile app-based vehicle checking system — Hostile Activity Watching Kernel (Hawk) — at the Chatta Munnar check-post under the Marayur Sandalwood Division near Munnar in Idukki, to identify offenders and facilitate easy vehicle checking on the Munnar-Chinnar interstate route.
Marayur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) M.G. Vinod Kumar stated that Chatta Munnar is one of the major forest check-posts connecting the Munnar-Marayur interstate route. “Normally, vehicles stop at the check-post and drivers submit details at the office, which are recorded in a logbook. After the dog squad and officials complete inspection, vehicles are permitted to continue their journey. This conventional process takes a long time and during peak tourist season and holidays, it can result in significant traffic congestion,” he said.
