Housing project in Velliangiri stayed

A bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad made it clear that authorities shall not proceed with any earth work or construction activities. It granted the interim injunction valid till further orders on a PIL by Velliangiri Hills Tribal Protection Society opposing any constructions by altering the landscape of the area.

After going through the submissions made by Additional Advocate General S R Rajagopal and petitioner’s counsel M Purushothaman, the bench said there was an order from the Coimbatore Local Planning Authority, the competent authority under the Town and Country Planning Act, for change of land use from industrial to residential in the area. “We are of the view that whatever has been done in the aforesaid areas should not be allowed to proceed, except without permission of the competent authorities,” it said.

The petitioner submitted the TN Slum Clearance Board proposed to construct over 4,500 houses villages which come under the Hill Area Conservation Authority. The petitioner claimed that there was a change in the peaceful forest atmosphere because of the “unauthorised constructions” and 10 tribals had lost their lives in the Velliangiri Hills in the past 2 years due to man-animal conflict. A counter affidavit filed by the district forest officer has said the reasons for man-animal conflict in Coimbatore forest division were due to increase in buildings, industrial and agricultural activities close to forests.