Nilgiris – being ‘gang raped’?

Dharmalingam Venugopal

Thirty years ago when the Nilgiris was under multiple pressure (tourism, urbanization, commercialization, immigration and tea boom) I organized the first ever meet on Eco-Focus on Nilgiris at Madras.

It took me more than six months to get all the important people together. Environmental awareness was just beginning in India and there was not much activism in Tamil Nadu.

Organised on April 18, 1987, the participants included Late Shri V Karthikeyan, former Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, Late Dr. B B Sundaresan, then Vice-Chancellor of Madras University, Shri B Vijayaraghavan, then Chairman of TNEB, Late Shri S Kondas, then Chief Conservator of Forests and Late Shri R Radcliffe, conservationist, Late Shri M S Appa Rao, former Chairman of Hindustan Photo Films, Prof J Ramachandran, former Vice- Chancellor of Madurai-Kamaraj University, Late Prof. T N V Rao, Retd. Professor of History, Presidency College, Dr. K N George, Director of Madras School of Social Work, Late Prof D. Kamala Kannan, former Dy. Director of Collegiate Education, Prof. A Mahadevan, Director, University of Madras, Late Shri E R C Davidar, renowned wildlife expert, Late Shri V J Rajan, Hon Secy., Madras Naturalists Society, Mrs Tara Murali, Architect, Shri K Padmanabhan, Jt Secretary, MCCI and Late Shri H Nanjundan, Secretary Badaga Association of Madras.

It was the first meeting of its kind. Many of its recommendations were implemented by the government subsequently which significantly slowed down the degradation and promoted regeneration and rehabilitation. Some of more important recommendations were:

·         Call to set up a Nilgiri Development Authority which was followed by the Master Plan and the Hill Area Conservation Authority.

·         Call for a total ban on clear felling of natural forest was implemented.

·         Call for degraded forests, particularly in catchment areas, to be afforested was implemented.

·         Call to stop further conversion of forest into plantations was implemented.

·         Call to stop extension of monoculture in tree plantations was followed by a ban on fresh plantation of eucalyptus.

·         Call for re-classification of Forest and Revenue lands was followed up. .

·         Call for a moratorium on all construction of a commercial nature till civic amenities were augmented was implemented as soon as Late CM came to power in 1991.

·         Call for corridors of movement for wildlife was implemented.

Eco-Focus on Nilgiris 2017

Thirty years on, the current situation in the Nilgiris has strong similarities with the dark forces of the 1980s. Rampant commercialization and urbanization, indiscriminate constructions and land use, tourism explosion, invasion of invasive plants, landslides, aging and inadequate infrastructure and widespread public and government apathy.

The need for a comprehensive New Eco-Focus on Nilgiris is overdue. Concerned and informed individuals, NGOs, public interest groups, community organizations should heed the warnings and take the call.

Munuswamy Sathyamoorthi , <sathy.ootyhindu@gmail.com>

No one can deny your efforts in Saving Niligiris, the master plan is dead now ,the days of 1987 are gone, there is no law of the land working here, you can construct buildings at your will any where in Nilgiris “bribe” is the only thing you have to give and do wonders of destruction in NIligiris.

I happen to go to Selas village where a huge construction of cottages is going on, the area is agriculture land which has tea plantation in it( the Madras high court has banned construction in agriland); a private bridge is been built across the Kattery river, more than 10 hairpin bends of road are been developed. When asked about this to a top offical in Coonoor, this was this answer ” they have dug the road manually without using a earthmover”, To everyones surprise the land promoter has managed to get the permission to construct the cottages(which is 100% illegal).A massive illegal construction is made legal.

This is just an example of how laws are flouted ou. There is no SAVE NILIGIRI its SHAVE NILIGIRI. its all gone nothing is left any more to distruct, i lost hope ,Pollution , illegal constrution, uncontrollable Tourists, irresponsible Agriculture, useless conservationists and Wildlife NGS,because of water pollution elephants are dying by drinking water from Moyar river, every one in Niligiris knows which industry in Niligiris is polluting Mayor but none are opening the mouth, The Niligiri Heaven is now a Dreadful HELL.

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