Tamil Nadu

Bar illegal constructions in proposed ‘elephant corridor’: High Court

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered that authorities should ensure that there are no illegal constructions in the proposed ‘elephant corridor’ in the Nilgiris district. Further, they should not allow any new construction in the area without intimating the court.

Passing further orders on a petition by In Defence of Environment and Animals, represented by its managing trustee, Elephant G. Rajendran, a Division Bench, comprising Justices S.J. Mukhopadhaya and M. Duraiswamy, said no person should be allowed to put up fresh solar/electrical fencing within the area as proposed by an expert committee.

When the matter came up, the expert panel submitted a report along with the field staff reports. The Bench said though certain maps had been enclosed showing the corridor, no demarcation had been made.The Environment and Forest Secretary, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Chennai (Chairman of the committee), Conservator of Forests, Ooty, and the District Forest Officer, The Nilgiris North Division, who were present in the court on Wednesday, said a detailed map would be produced on the next hearing date, showing the boundaries of the corridor as suggested by the committee. The Bench said that in the map, details of the survey numbers of the private lands which may fall within the corridor, should be given. The court allowed two weeks’ time for the panel to file the map showing the corridor boundaries.

In the meantime, the Environment and Forests Secretary would place a copy of the report before the government with the map, which would be prepared and produced on the next hearing date. The State may file an affidavit stating as to whether it intended to accept the report in its totality or with modification. Further hearing has been posted for November 19.

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