The Minister along with Dindigul Collector M Vijayalakshmi and officials from the Forest Department inspected the site on Monday. The proposed move is aimed at conserving natural resources in the hilly areas and also to inculcate cultural, educational and biodiversity values among the public, the Minister said.

The Sirumalai hills, considered to be spur of Eastern Ghats, in Dindigul district, have forest cover with an extent of over 60,000 acres. The hill is undulating in nature with few plateaus and found located at an elevation of 400 to1650 meters from sea level. The hills were located about 25 kilometers from Dindigul town harbouring about 895 species belonging to 536 genera of higher plants with repository of several rare and endemic plants.

Citing the natural species in the hills, the Minister said that Sirumalai has recently been gaining huge tourism potentials owing to its salubrious weather, scenic beauty and places of interest. Hence, it was imperative that people who visit the hills sensitized to aid in sustainable management of available natural resources in this ecological sensitive area, the Minister said.

Further, the Minister said that the road to access the proposed park would be developed for 7.4 km at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore. Besides, infrastructure facilities to accommodate tourists, tourist guide, interpretation centre and transport arrangements would be made, he said.