The Supreme Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to prepare a comprehensive time-bound action plan within a month to evict thousands of encroachers from the ecologically sensitive Agasthyamalai landscape. The court warned that failure to comply would invite administrative accountability at the highest level.
Background of the Case
The Agasthyamalai landscape, covering 3,500 square kilometers across Tamil Nadu and Kerala, is a biodiversity hotspot. It includes the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve, and Periyar Tiger Reserve. These areas are home to endangered species such as tigers, elephants, leopards, Indian gaur, sloth bears, Nilgiri langurs, and great Indian hornbills.
Court's Observations
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta noted that encroachments have persisted and proliferated because the state government's efforts remained "in the realm of hollow promises" and "significantly below the threshold of response that the gravity and urgency of the situation demand." The court acknowledged the task is onerous but emphasized that protecting ecologically sensitive regions cannot be indefinitely deferred.
Action Against Government Servants
The court ordered the Tamil Nadu government to initiate disciplinary and legal action against 118 identified government servants who have encroached on forest lands. Additional penalties may include environment restitution and restoration charges to be deposited with the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority.
Eviction Plan and Implementation
For priority implementation of a "time-bound, division-wise encroachment eviction plan," the Supreme Court stated that if the state fails to remove encroachments, the Central Empowered Committee may recommend deployment of paramilitary forces. The court also imposed a blanket moratorium on extension of welfare schemes, public utilities, transport facilities, electricity supply, and infrastructure support within encroached forest areas to disincentivize illegal settlements.
Dismantling Illegal Infrastructure
All government establishments, facilities, and unauthorized infrastructure within forest areas, including Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve, must be discontinued, relocated, dismantled, and removed within six months. Illegal resorts and commercial establishments in the Megamalai area and other forest lands must be made non-operational forthwith and dismantled with minimal disruption to the forest.
Next Hearing
The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 28. The court warned that failure to comply would invite administrative accountability at the highest level.
