Principal Chief Conservator of Forests visits Kasampatti in Dindigul

Kasampatty residents oppose Tamil Nadu government's sacred grove declaration, demand preservation of 800-year-old temple rituals.

As people of Kasampatty have been opposing the Tamil Nadu government’s notification of declaring the Veera Kovil sacred grove, as a biodiversity heritage site, Vijendra Singh Malik, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Secretary, Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board, visited the region and spoke with the people of the villages here on Wednesday. 

The people stressed that the 800-year-old temple rituals which allow only men to participate should not be disturbed due to the announcement.

As they feared that the declaration of biodiversity heritage site would disturb their traditional route in and around the sacred grove, they opposed the announcement. 

They warned that if the government did not revoke the order, people would stage a mass protest.  

Mr. Malik informed the people that a committee headed by District Forest Officer M. Rajkumar would be constituted to hold a meeting with them to clear their queries and also apprehensions about the announcement.