Project to restore elephant corridor in Nilgiris

Udhagamandalam (TN), Oct 24 (PTI/GNA) In an attempt to

restore the traditional elephant corridor in the Nilgiris

region, a rare biodiversity zone in the Western Ghats, the

southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is planning to evacuate

private encroachers from forest lands there.

The lands in the corridor areas, allegedly acquired by

private people, would be restored in a phased manner and

steps would be taken once some of the cases related to the

issue are settled, official sources said.

The initiative will help to ensure the safe passage of

elephant herds through forest fringe areas, state forest

minister K Selvaraj said here on Saturday after inspecting

elephant corridors like Bokkapuram and Masanagudi in the

region.

As per the official figures, nearly 4,000 hectares in

the Nilgiris come under the elephant corridors, of which 1,500

hectares of land are held by private parties.

"Some people have approached courts in this regard and

the government will act once the litigation is over," he said.

As part of the evacuation process, the government is

planning to take stern action against illegal resorts which

have sprung up along the 2.2 km long and 1.5 km wide corridor

in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the district.

Permission would not be given for construction of new

buildings in the area, the minister said.

Animal enthusiasts and environmental campaigners have

been demanding for the restoration of elephant corridors in

the region for many years.

It is essential to ensure the conservation of the natural

habitat and enable the passage of the jumbo community in the

Nilgiris region, which is rich in rare flora and fauna, they

said.

Tamil Nadu has 12 of the total 88 elephant corridors in

the country, with Nilgiris district alone having six. The

state also accounts for 4,000 of the total 25,000 pachyderms

in the country, sources said.