Notice to TNSCB on construction in Coimbatore hill area villages

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad before whom the plea moved by Velliangiri Hill Tribal Protection Society came up for hearing on Monday ordered notice to the TNSCB, District Hill Area Conservation Authority, the Town and Country Planning Department, Coimbatore region, returnable in three weeks.

The Velliangiri Hill Tribal Protection Society represented by its president V Loganathan had contended that TNSCB under the ‘Home for Everyone Scheme’ is planning to construct 600 residences in Alanthurai-Kalimangalam, 1,540 houses in the area near the forest in Thenkarai Village, 2,500 houses near the hill area in Chettipalayam village in Perur and 70 houses for tribals in Pachana Vayal area in Alanthurai village. But all the said three villages-Alanthurai, Tenkarai and Perur Chettipalayam-come under the Hill area Conservation Authority.

The plea on citing that already in the villages coming under the Hill Area Conservation Authority many unauthorised constructions and large scale projects in the area near the hills has led to elephants coming into the residential areas and causing large number of deaths and loss to crops, submitted that under these circumstances it is highly dangerous for the government itself to undertake such large unauthorised constructions without any approval and proper impact assessments about elephant habitats.

“The TNSCB is selecting these areas adjoining the hills for the purpose of settling poor people hurriedly without any approval. A wrong is being done purposefully knowing very well that urban people from the City who are afraid of even stray dogs would become scapegoats to elephants and Leopards for reasons known to themselves,” the plea said. It also noted “We fear that it could be with vested interest to promote the value of properties in the vicinity belonging to some rich and powerful real estate business.”

Also, pointing out that the proposed projects will destroy the livelihood of pastoral coolies who rear goats and cattle in the areas adjoining the hills, the petitioner submitted that these unauthorised project which are disastrous to environment should not only be stopped but ought to be shifted to some other places and the government should not indulge in such unauthorised constructions while it has to be a model for private institutions to abide by the law.