Chennai: The Southern Zone, National Green Tribunal, has permitted the Kerala government to go ahead with construction of parking facilities in Periyar Tiger Reserve adjoining the Mullaiperiyar reservoir area.
When petitions filed by M.S. Thankappan and Abraham Thomas of Idukki district, Kerala, came up for hearing before the bench comprising its judicial member Justice M.S Nambiar and expert member P.S Rao, it granted permission to the Kerala government.
In their separate petitions, M.S. Thankappan and Abraham Thomas opposed construction activities in an area which fall under reserve forest.
They sought a direction to the Kerala government to stop construction activities undertaken as part of tourism development in the area. The Tamil Nadu government has vehemently opposed construction activities as the site leased out to Tamil Nadu by Kerala is located close to the Mullaiperiyar reservoir.
When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, Justice M.S Nambiar said that the tribunal would not go into the issue of ownership of the land on which the constructions activities are planned.
A case regarding this is pending before the Supreme Court. The tribunal said that the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had accorded clearance to the tourism projects. These were also approved by the competent authorities.
Hence, it turned down the argument of the petitioners that such activities attract the provisions of the Forest Act and therefore necessary clearance has to be obtained.According to sources, Tamil Nadu proposes to challenge the verdict before the Supreme Court.
