The Madras high court ordered Friday immediate removal of illegally erected solar-energised electrical fencing in the elephant corridor in Nilgiris district.

It said the fence was restricting free movement of animals and virtually cutting across the corridor.

A division bench of justices Elipe Dharma Rao and N. Kirubakaran passed the order on a plea by R. Vishnu Ram Saravanavel of Chennai and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.

They said a division bench of the court had passed an interim order on Dec. 3, 2009, that unregulated voltage solar power fencing could not be allowed, further making it clear that its fresh order would be equally applicable to tribals and other traditional forest-dwellers.

This order was challenged before the SC, but these directions were not interfered. Even in the final order passed on pleas on April 7, 2011, this court had observed that “it is also on record that each private holding is bounded by solar electric fencing, cutting across the elephant corridor and thus people are developing this area for pleasure of individuals at the cost of elephant…”, thus recognising the threat posed by illegal erections to wildlife.