HC orders issue of notice to Environment Ministry

Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court today ordered issue of notice to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, among others, on two PILs relating to the Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
While one PIL challenged the Centre's notification of October 15 last, which laid down guidelines for tourism activities in Tiger reserve areas, the other sought to quash State Forest Department's notification permitting tourism-related activities at KMTR.
Both the PILs had been filed by R.Ramesh, managing director of SWASAM Trust,an NGO.
He submitted that permitting tourism-related activities would defeat the object of 'Project Tiger scheme" of the Environment and Forests department since 1973 for ensuring a viable tiger population for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological values.

The petitioner,who is also a member of the Local Advisory Committee for Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, said the Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director of the Reserve had erred in issuing the Feb18 notification permitting tourists to enjoy boating in Karaiyar Dam and drive their vehicles up to upper Kodayar area.
If vehicles were allowed,then it would affect breeding of tiger population,he said.
A Division Bench of acting Chief Justice Rajesh Kumar Agarwal and Justice Chitra Venkataraman ordered issue of notice to the Central and state government officials including Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests and Principal Conservator of Forests.