A wildlife enthusiast has filed a public interest litigation petition before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking a direction to forbear the Dindigul district administration from laying a road from Dolphin’s Nose to Vattakanal in the wildlife corridor of Kodaikanal wildlife sanctuary.
A Division Bench of Justices Paresh Upadhyay and R. Vijayakumar ordered notice and sought counter affidavit from the Centre and the State on the petition filed by S. Pandi of Theni district. He complained that the road was being laid through a wildlife corridor where the Indian Gaur and deer would frequent.
The petitioner said that in 2019 four alternative routes were surveyed to connect Dolphin’s Nose to Vattakanal and in 2022, the authorities started work on the present route. The road development along this route poses a threat to endangered species. The route was within an eco-sensitive zone, he said.
He said forest trees were being felled and no permission was obtained from competent authorities. Also, no permission was obtained from the Hill Area Conservation Authority. The road expansion could facilitate more encroachers to occupy the lands. Road expansion in the area would expose the animals to vehicular traffic, he said. The case was adjourned till April 4.
EOM
