Idukki: Idukki district in Kerala has once again reclaimed its title as the largest district in the state following a government order that expanded the land area of Edamalakkudy village in the Devikulam taluk. A significant 12,718.509 hectares of land, previously part of Kuttampuzha village in Kothamangalam taluk, Ernakulam district, has now been incorporated into Edamalakkudy village, situated in the pristine Idukki district. With this expansion, Idukki has surpassed Palakkad and reclaimed its position as the largest district in Kerala in terms of land area.
The government issued a gazette notification on the 5th of the month, announcing the expansion of the land area for Edamalakkudy village. This decision was primarily aimed at granting land rights to tribal communities in Edamalakkudy under the Forest Rights Act. Consequently, Idukki district’s total land area has increased from 4,48,504.64 hectares to 4,61,223.14 hectares. Conversely, Ernakulam district has seen a reduction in its land area, decreasing from 3,05,149 hectares to 2,92,430.49 hectares as a result of this adjustment.
Idukki district’s historic claim to being Kerala’s largest district dates back to before 1997. The land expansion process saw the incorporation of the Kuttampuzha Panchayat into Devikulam Taluk and a reclassification of parts of Palakkad into Kothamangalam Taluk. This administrative change realigned the territorial boundaries and confirmed Idukki’s top-ranking status in terms of land size.
Under the new notification, Kuttampuzha village has witnessed a reduction in its land area from 65,374.94 hectares to 52,656.43 hectares. Simultaneously, Edamalakkudy village’s land area has expanded dramatically, increasing from 9,558.87 hectares to 22,277.38 hectares.
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