Chennai: The National Green Tribunal’s southern bench on Tuesday permitted the road-widening project on the Girivalam path in Tiruvannamalai, with a rider that the biodiversity should not be disturbed.
Taking into consideration a two-member committee report submitted after studying the ecology of the Girivalam path, the bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member P. S Rao ruled that the project is neither illegal nor is it against the preservation of nature.
The committee, with a retired chief justice, Sampath Kumar and an IFS officer, Dr Sekhare, had earlier said that the proposed road-widening project would not come under the jurisdiction of Sonagiri forests and that none of the five stretches has endangered flora and fauna.
The committee's report had suggested that the highways department could be allowed to lay a paver block pathway six metres wide alongside the stretch, the tribunal had permitted it to be only a two-metre pathway.
“It is not a regular road widening project. The local deities and the native species should not be touched during the works,” said the tribunal. The tribunal has also consented to the construction of a storm water drain network and directed the Tiruvannamalai district administration to evict all forms of encroachments at the Girivalam path.
Noting that the number of pilgrims is gradually increasing, the bench suggested to the district administration to mark out emergency pathways during Girivalam.
“The tribunal had not permitted any works near the hill side. It has also suggested to the Tiruvannamalai collector to incorporate facilities like pathways for ambulances”, Additional Government Pleader, E. Manoharan told DC.
The pilgrims who felt the pathway was lacking in essential facilities welcomed the judgment. “On full moon day and other auspicious occasions, the path gets choked with lakhs of piligrims. A dedicated pathway is the need of the hour to avoid untoward incidents,” said Raja Sethuraman, a pilgrim.
