Notice to state on plea regarding felling of trees on Kalvarayan Hills

The vacation bench comprising Justice M S Ramesh and Justice G R Swaminathan, on admitting the plea moved by G Gunasekaran of Ramanaickenpalayam village, ordered notice to the Principal Secretary to the Government, Forest Department, Chief Conservator of Forests, District Collector, Salem and the District Forest Officer, Salem.

The petitioner submitted that as per the Filed Measurement Book (FMB) created by the British, roads were created to reach all forest villages from the Ramanaickenpalayam to Nagalur Kottivalaivu, Keezhavarai and Keelakkadu. But now the forest department instead of developing the said FMB roads was laying new roads through the Kallar Dam project, meant for preserving water and aid irrigation in 6000 acres in surrounding villages.

Noting that the road laying work has led to thousands of old trees being felled in a 7 km stretch in the forests ruining the ecosystem, the petitioner said that his written representations to the State pleading them to stop cutting trees and abstaining from disturbing the Kallaru Dam Scheme, had failed to evoke response.

He further submitted that the government instead of focusing on widening the existing FMB roads, which would have been utterly cost effective, has instead resorted to disturbing the Kallaru Dam Scheme.

He said for the over 2000 families residing in Kerangadu, Keezhavarai, Adiyanur and Pattivalaivu, they will have access to the nearby town via Athur. They will have to get down from the hills to reach Attur through the existing FMB roads.

But the State instead of widening the prevailing FMB road has resorted to creating new roads at the cost of thousands of trees and environment.

Failing to restrain the government from cutting down the trees and laying the road from Ramanaickenpalayam to Nagalur Pattivalavu will subject the forest and villagers to irreparable loss and hardship, the plea added.