THEVARAM
Fresh proposals should be sent to the Central Forests Advisory Committee to obtain permission for laying roads to Sri Mangaladevi Kannagi Temple on the Western Ghats from Paliyangudi near Lower Camp and to Sakkaluthu Mettu from T. Mettupatti, the shortest route to Kerala from Thevaram in Bodi block.
This was the advice given to the district administration by a high-level forest team, led by Chief Wildlife Warden T.P. Raghunath, which accompanied Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Forests Minister C. Srinivasan during a feasibility study for various road projects in hilly villages on Wednesday.
The team said the Central committee would meet twice a year to clear various projects. It advised Collector N. Venkatachalam to send applications online to the committee for permission for the works.
The team members said the government had also planned to lay a 13-km-long road to Top Station from Kurangani at a cost of ₹35 crore. In 2002-03, a 1.8-km stretch was completed by NABARD, and the work on the remaining stretch was pending for forest department’s clearance. The road would connect several villages benefiting 1,900 people. Sakkaluthu Mettu Road would also be laid at a cost of ₹25 crore, they added.
Later, talking to media persons, Mr. Panneerselvam said the main purpose of the visit was to enhance infrastructure in hilly villages. Forest officials said over 400 trees would be felled to lay a 2.8-km-long road to Sokkanalai to benefit 500 families on Agamalai hill.
The Ministers also inspected works on roads to Kannakarai on Agamalai hill, Karipatti near Kurangani and Sakkaluthu Mettu.
Additional Chief Conservator of Forests Sudhansu Gupta, Virudhunagar Chief Conservator of Forests Debasis Jana, Madurai Conservator of Forests R.K. Jagenia and Wildlife Wardens T.K. Ashok Kumar and K. Ram Mohan accompanied them.
