NGT stays road widening work near Meghamalai.

National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Southern Bench here has granted an interim stay on widening of a 35-km stretch of road from Thenpalani to Highwavys in Theni district.

When a plea, filed by M. Saravanan of Madurai, came up for hearing before the Bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member P.S. Rao on Thursday, Special Government Pleader Abdul Saleem took notice for the State Highways Department.

The Bench also cited a report in The Hindu dated March 17 over the issue, granted an interim stay on the work and posted the case to July 1. Mr. Saravanan had stated that Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary situated in the Western Ghats was rich in wildlife and housed endangered species.

However, large tracts of forests in the area were given on lease to different companies which converted them into plantations.

Recently, about 150 trees were felled in Meghamalai Reserve Forest for widening a stretch of 35 km of a road adjoining the sanctuary.

“The existing road width is 5.5m. But, work is being done by Highways Department to expand the width by 10-22 m illegally. Very old trees are being cut on the sides of the road without permission,” the petitioner claimed.

He also cited The Hindu report and sought a direction to restore the land illegally cleared from Thenpalani to Highwavys and further direct the Environment and Forest Secretary and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest to take action against officials responsible for “illegal” road widening.

The applicant claimed that felling trees inside reserve forests needed permission from the District-Level Committee as per Hill Area Trees Preservation Act and permission from the District Committee was also needed as the area was notified under the Tamil Nadu Preservation of Private Forests Act, 1949. Permission was required from the Hill Area Conservation Authority formed under Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, he said.

THE HINDU