Greens seek active hill conservation authority

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

Forest Department measures to protect elephant corridors

M. SOUNDARIYA PREETHA
In the wake of rapid development in areas near the reserve forests in the district and increasing elephant movement into villages, the Forest Department has taken a series of measures recently to ensure that new constructions do not come up in the elephant corridors or affect elephant movement in the forest area.

The department has intimated the appropriate authorities on constructions coming up without its permission in the Hill Area Conservation Act (HACA) notified villages or buildings that are promoted on the agricultural land in the areas close to the forest without getting a “no objection certificate” from the department.

Village panchayats

It has also told nearly 20 village panchayats (in the HACA notified area) that are seeing several new buildings coming up that the structures need no objection certificate from the department.

The unauthorised constructions should not be given power or water supply. This will act as a deterrent, says District Forest Officer V. Thirunavukarasu.

The department has also suggested to the District Local Planning Authority (LPA) that the land classification should not be changed in the sensitive villages identified by it near the forest.

Further, the Forest Department has recently asked the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) to gets its concurrence before installing street lights in the tribal hamlets in the forest area. This is to ensure safety of the people there and that elephant movement is not affected.

Mr. Thirunavukarasu The Hindu on Friday that as many as 22 tribal hamlets in Karamadai range did not have electricity supply till about five years ago.

When the Tangedco started the process of providing electricity to all hamlets, the supply was given only to the households.

Streetlights

However, when streetlights were provided under the Tamil Nadu Habitations Improvement Scheme, several lights had come up.

“There is no ban on erection of streetlights. However, we want to permit it after evaluating the local conditions before the electricity poles are erected,” he said. The lights could be permitted based on the local conditions.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/forest-department-measures-to-protect-elephant-corridors/article4380826.ece