Chennai: The latest arrival to the Vandaloor zoo is a four-year-old leopard, which was prowling the Satyamangalam forest for the last two months. The state forest department officials spent sleepless nights to catch the man-eater as it had already killed two residents of Satyamangalam.
Like this leopard, several wild animals come in conflict with humans as the eco sensitive areas, which make abuffer space between the forest and human habitats, are compromised for various projects. On the other hand, fireworks companies and realtors demand that the government allow them to utilise the potential of land by introducing a balance between conservation and development.
Experts say that since Tamil Nadu environment and forest departments are yet to come out with a comprehensive report on ESA, spots like Srivilliputhur squirrel sanctuary, Kalakkad Mundanthurai tiger sanctuary in Tirunelveli, Vedanthangal bird sanctuary in Kancheepuram and Guindy national park in Chennai are facing ecological disturbances. Cases have been filed by industrialists against the ESAs seeking a balance between economic growth and environment.
According to the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) ESAs are important ecological corridor links and must be protected to prevent isolation of fragments of biodiversity, which will not otherwise survive in the long run. In its guidelines for national parks and sanctuaries, the union environment ministry states that the purpose of declaring ESA around parks and sanctuaries is to create some kind of ecological ‘shock absorber’.
The pace at which notification of ESA is made by the government is encouraging land users to occupy ESA in a rapid manner. As Tamil Nadu is one of the most urbanised states in the country - real estate mafia and industry barons are always hungry for more land, say environmentalists.
Talking about Vedanthangal bird sanctuary advocate M. Santhanaraman, who specialises in environmental issues, said, “Residential buildings coming up next to Vedanthangal bird sanctuary and farmlands are disappearing. This affects food availability for migratory birds. TN government had declared that just 1.5 km from sanctuary could be treated as ESAs. If the entire neighbourhood around the sanctuary becomes a residential zone, how can birds thrive?”
Mr Santhanaraman added the union environment ministry recommended that 10 km buffer parks and sanctuaries should be considered as ESA. Farmers say the area is drought prone and crops have not been successful there for years now.
Pointing out the fate of the Guindy park environmentalist T. Murugavel of the Tamil Nadu Green Movement (TNGM) said, “The TN government neither prevented IIT-Madras from construction close to the park nor cleared up areas in the surroundings of the park. When the TN government maintained ‘nil’ ESA around Guindy park, the union ministry pulled up the TN forest department and asked it to come up with a fresh report rejecting the maintenance of ‘nil’ ESA.
The government’s argument that no area is available immediately outside the park to be declared as ESA and many development projects are expected to come up in the area surrounding Guindy park was rejected by the union ministry.” He added that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) hearing the case is expected to put an end to the controversy.
Another case being heard in the Madurai bench of the Madras high court is against construction of fireworks and explosive factories in the vicinity of the Srivilliputhur grizzled squirrel sanctuary. As the factories are constructed just 4 km from the sanctuary, residents of Govindapuram in Srivilliputhur approached the court to save the sanctuary.
“We are fighting a case to preserve the sanctuary and save the animals and environment for our future generations,” said Govindanallur village panchayat president V.Chellakannu. The villagers resisted deals with industrialists to call off their protests against the fireworks.
Environmentalist Subramaniya Raja says Guindy park, Vedanthangal and Srivilliputhur squirrel sanctuary are cases worth studying. “The five national parks and 21 sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu, which are the existing green spots providing a relief to several wildlife and plants that are facing extinction. If the government fails to maintain ESAs around these areas, Tamil Nadu would suffer severe impact because the ecology and the food chain would be damaged,” he said.
