Concerns raised over proposed development works in Coimbatore’s reserve forests for tourism

Concerns raised over proposed tourism developments in Coimbatore reserve forests, critical habitats for elephants at risk.

Nature enthusiasts have raised concerns over the proposed plans for developments in tourism spots in the reserve forests in Coimbatore district, as these fall under critical habitats for elephants.

On Monday, Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister R. Rajendran visited Kovai Courtallam, Vellingiri Andavar temple at Poondi and eco-tourism centre at Baralikadu in the district to assess facilities for tourists and the prospects for developmental works. The Minister announced plans to explore the potential of developing Kovai Courtallam into an adventure tourism destination.

However, nature enthusiasts feel that further developmental works at Kovai Courtallam in the Boluvampatti forest range will have potential impact on the wildlife.

“Boluvampatty is one of the forest ranges with good vegetation and considerable expanse of flat terrain forests that are ideal for animals like elephants. Most of the forest areas in other ranges are slopes and hills. Already, the tourist inflow to Kovai Courtallam is at peak,” said a conservationist, who did not want to be named.

Similarly, conservationists feel that further developmental works like adventure tourism along the bank of River Bhavani at Baralikadu and Poochamarathur in the Karamadai range will also cause disturbance to wildlife. According to them, the banks of the river are used by elephants to traverse from the Kerala side towards Sathyamangalam via Karamadai, Mettupalayam and Sirumugai ranges, bypassing the Periyanaickenpalayam range.

“Developmental works and increased human presence in the riparian forests on the two sides of the river will hamper free movement of wild elephants and they will be forced to move via the Periyanaickenpalayam range. Already, human - elephant conflicts are increasingly getting reported from the Periyanaickenpalayam range,” said another conservationist.

At the Velliangiri foothills, increased human activity is already forcing elephants to stray into nearby villages. Elephants also enter the temple surroundings in search of food and leftovers.