Madras High Court bench here has been moved seeking to quash a September 20, 2013 Tamil Nadu Government order declaring as Eco-Sensitive Zone, the area in and around the Kodaikanal Wild Life Sanctuary.
Petitioner V Ashokan, Founder of non-government organisation Nature Care Trust, contended that the order was a violation of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 and also against the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court for declaring a zone as Eco-sensitive zone.
He submitted Kodaikanal Hill had 16 villages where six lakh people lived. It was also a hill station. The People of the villages were dependent only on agriculture.Their livelihood would be affected by the declaration of the government.
Besides, there were eight dams in the area and the agricultural operations were dependent on the eight dams. Hence the court should intervene and quash the order.
The Bharathia Kissan sangam had given a representation opposing the declaration on Jan 6 last. The petitioner had also given a representation on Jan 12. But there was no response from the Government.
