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High Court directive to Nilgiris Collector

Special Correspondent

“Remove all encroachments from revenue lands identified for elephant corridor”

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed The Nilgiris Collector to remove all encroachments from revenue lands identified for the development of an elephant corridor.

In its order on a writ petition by In Defence of Environment and Animals, by its managing trustee, Elephant G. Rajendran, the First Bench, comprising the Chief Justice A.K.Ganguly and Justice F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla, directed the State government to send a proposal to the Centre with regard to funds required for acquisition of land for development of the corridor.

The Government Pleader submitted that the State would forward the proposal within two weeks. On the basis of the proposal, the Centre would communicate its response to the State government and an affidavit to that effect should be filed by the Centre before the Bench within four weeks.

The Collector filed an affidavit highlighting the importance of developing the corridor.

In his petition, among other things, Mr. Rajendran sought a direction to the Collector to take immediate steps to transfer the revenue lands, which were the traditional pathway of elephants, to the Forest Department. This was necessary to avoid further conflicts between man and animals. If the lands are handed over, there could not be any encroachment on them in future.

By another order on a separate petition filed by Mr. Rajendran on illegal quarrying in the district, the First Bench said all criminal cases so far registered should be transferred to the CB CID.

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