SC directs CEC to survey Agasthyamalai landscape to spot encroachments into forests

Supreme Court orders extensive survey of Agasthyamalai forest to identify encroachments and protect tiger habitats in Western Ghats.

The Supreme Court has directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to conduct an extensive survey of the entire tropical forest ecosystems of the Agasthyamalai landscape in the southernmost Western Ghats to identify non-forestry activities and encroachments.

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In a 16-page judgment, a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta termed the survey as an interim measure “to initiate the process of restoration of the pristine forest areas and to protect the tiger habitats, wildlife reserves and sanctuaries falling under the Agasthyamalai biosphere”.

The Agasthyamalai landscape is recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a 3,500-km biosphere reserve falling within both Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The CEC survey would include the Periyar tiger reserve, Srivilliputhur grizzled squirrel wildlife sanctuary, Meghamalai and Thirunelveli wildlife sanctuaries.

“The CEC shall indicate in its report all instances of non-forestry activities going on in these areas contrary to the statutory provisions viz, the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, etc,” Justice Mehta, who authored the judgment, directed. The judgment was pronounced on March 24 and published on Friday.

The report would contain the comparative data pertaining to the forest cover as it existed earlier vis-à-vis the current position in order to gauge the extent of depletion and degradation in the forest area.