K A Shaji, TNN | Mar 12, 2013
COIMBATORE: Two weeks have gone since district collector M Karunagaran issued an order banning illegal constructions in villages notified under the Hill Area Conservation Authority (HACA). The order has had minimal impact. Meanwhile, Madras high court has sought affidavits from the forest department and the district administration in two weeks on a public interest litigation that sought all illegal constructions by a spiritual centre in Boluvampatti to be demolished. In the same time, green groups in the region have come out in open demanding immediate steps for the strengthening of the HACA which, according to them, can ease man-animal conflict in the region.
Tamil Nadu Green Movement president Dr V Jeevanandan and general secretary A Rangarajan said they written a letter to chief minister J Jayalalithaa requesting a total revamp of HCA. "Non-compliance of HACA regulations is triggering human-animal conflict in the region. District administration must act to preserve elephant paths and habitat in the Coimbatore region,'' says Jeevanandan.
According to activist Mohammed Saleem, Coimbatore forests come under Elephant Reserve No 8 notified by the ministry of environment and forests. This means, village lands abutting the elephant reserves are ecologically sensitive. "HACA and the district administration must not allow indiscriminate land use change, road building and other construction in these lands. PWD, TWAD board, highways and TANGEDCO must limit activities in HACA-notified villages,'' he says.
The collector's order on illegal constructions mentions villages including Devarayapuram, Kalikka Naykkan Palayam, Ikkarai Boluvampatti, Mathampatti, Theethipalayam, Thondamuthur, Perur Chettipalayam, Sundakkamuthur, Ettimadai, Alandurai, Madhavarayapuram, Vellimalaipattanam, Narasipuram, Pooluvampatti, Mavuthampatti, Velliyankadu, Thekkampatti, Odanthurai, Chinnathadagam, Veerapandi, Somayampalayam, Nellithurai, Sikkadasampalayam, Sirumugai, Periyapothu, Vettaikaranpudur, Kaliyapauram, Kottur, Angalakurichi, Thurayur, Jallipatti, Ardhanaripalayam and Aanamalai. According to Rangarajan, land use patterns have been violated in these villages and non-agricultural activities including setting up of industries, recreational firms, educational institutions and residential complexes are replacing agriculture. "HACA has failed in all respects," says Jeevanandam. "Government must stop all non-forestry activity in these villages and revise Coimbatore master plan giving prime consideration to ecology of the region,'' he adds.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Greens-seek-active-hill-conservation-authority/articleshow/18917230.cms
COIMBATORE: Two weeks have gone since district collector M Karunagaran issued an order banning illegal constructions in villages notified under the Hill Area Conservation Authority (HACA). The order has had minimal impact. Meanwhile, Madras high court has sought affidavits from the forest department and the district administration in two weeks on a public interest litigation that sought all illegal constructions by a spiritual centre in Boluvampatti to be demolished. In the same time, green groups in the region have come out in open demanding immediate steps for the strengthening of the HACA which, according to them, can ease man-animal conflict in the region.
Tamil Nadu Green Movement president Dr V Jeevanandan and general secretary A Rangarajan said they written a letter to chief minister J Jayalalithaa requesting a total revamp of HCA. "Non-compliance of HACA regulations is triggering human-animal conflict in the region. District administration must act to preserve elephant paths and habitat in the Coimbatore region,'' says Jeevanandan.
According to activist Mohammed Saleem, Coimbatore forests come under Elephant Reserve No 8 notified by the ministry of environment and forests. This means, village lands abutting the elephant reserves are ecologically sensitive. "HACA and the district administration must not allow indiscriminate land use change, road building and other construction in these lands. PWD, TWAD board, highways and TANGEDCO must limit activities in HACA-notified villages,'' he says.
The collector's order on illegal constructions mentions villages including Devarayapuram, Kalikka Naykkan Palayam, Ikkarai Boluvampatti, Mathampatti, Theethipalayam, Thondamuthur, Perur Chettipalayam, Sundakkamuthur, Ettimadai, Alandurai, Madhavarayapuram, Vellimalaipattanam, Narasipuram, Pooluvampatti, Mavuthampatti, Velliyankadu, Thekkampatti, Odanthurai, Chinnathadagam, Veerapandi, Somayampalayam, Nellithurai, Sikkadasampalayam, Sirumugai, Periyapothu, Vettaikaranpudur, Kaliyapauram, Kottur, Angalakurichi, Thurayur, Jallipatti, Ardhanaripalayam and Aanamalai. According to Rangarajan, land use patterns have been violated in these villages and non-agricultural activities including setting up of industries, recreational firms, educational institutions and residential complexes are replacing agriculture. "HACA has failed in all respects," says Jeevanandam. "Government must stop all non-forestry activity in these villages and revise Coimbatore master plan giving prime consideration to ecology of the region,'' he adds.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Greens-seek-active-hill-conservation-authority/articleshow/18917230.cms
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