'Move' to declare hilly village as reserve forest opposed

A grama sabha meeting held at a village, mostly inhabited by Badaga tribal community, in this hilly district today opposed any move to declare it as reserved forest area.

A resolution to this effect was adpoted at the meeting held in Ajjoor, near Kothagiri, Badagadesa Party Convenor Manjai Mohan said.

The village, which presently has a population of about 3,000 people, was solely dependent on the forest produce for more than 100 years and declaring it as a reserved forest area would hit their livelihood, he said.

The resolution objecting to the proposal of forest department will be sent to Tamil Nadu chief minister and also the district administration, Mohan said, adding more than 1,500 people participated in the meeting.