CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed resorts in the Anaikatti forest area not to conduct New Year celebrations at night involving loud music and dancing, citing concerns over disturbance to wildlife.
A special Division Bench comprising Justices N Sathish Kumar and D Bharatha Chakravarthy, which deals with matters of forest protection and environmental conservation, issued the direction.
The order followed a representation by wildlife activist Muralidharan, who expressed apprehension that New Year festivities by resorts operating in forest areas of Coimbatore could adversely affect wild animals. During the hearing, he pointed out that the HC had imposed stringent restrictions in forest regions, including a ban on the use of loud horns by vehicles at night and high-intensity lights on forest roads.
However, resorts were allegedly charging between Rs 2,000 and Rs 4,500 per person for New Year celebrations, raising fears that loud music and night-long dancing could disrupt wildlife movement and behaviour.
Taking note of the submissions, the Bench reiterated the need to strictly enforce existing safeguards to protect forest ecosystems, and directed that resorts in the Anaikatti forest area should not hold night-time New Year celebrations involving loud music or dancing.
The Forest Department was instructed to take appropriate action to ensure compliance with the court’s directions and to prevent any activities that could disturb wildlife in the forest region.