A public interest litigation petition was filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday against any further construction in the prohibited zone located in and around the Gymkhana Ground and surrounding marshes in Kodaikanal, as it could cause adverse damage to the environment.
The petition alleged that the Fisheries department had violated norms by trying to build a tank in the prohibited zone for which building materials had been stocked in the area. The construction materials and debris could affect the marsh lands and they should be removed, the petition said.
In 1993, the area comprising Kodaikanal Lake, Gymkhana Ground and an area up to 200 metres of the lake and the ground were declared prohibited zone where no construction is allowed. The existing structures in the zone cannot be expanded or altered and only repair works can be carried out for maintenance.
