Drop housing project on elephant corridor, petition villagers

Sources said the village, which falls within the Madukkarai Forest Range, is often visited by wild elephants, who wander in search of food and water. The dense forests abutting the village is also home to leopards, deer and bears.

“However, the slum clearance board is raising tenements on the path taken by elephants. If this route used by them for several years is blocked, elephants would stray more frequently into our village resulting in human-animal conflicts,” villagers said in their petition.

They expressed fear that they would be forced to move elsewhere if such conflicts escalate due to disturbance caused to the wild animals.

According to the villagers, the TNSCB was building 600 houses, which may accommodate not less than 2,000 people.

“If so many people reside in the same locality, it may have a disastrous effect on the environment. Not just humans, even animals would be at a risk,” the villagers claimed. Moreover, the petitioners alleged that building tenements on the migratory pathway of animals was a violation and should not be permitted at any cost.

On receiving the petition, Rajamani assured the villagers that he would examine their demand and take up the issue with departments concerned.