The hillock near Karamadai is part of the 1,049.74 hectares of land declared as reserve land by the Coimbatore District Collector | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The forest area in Coimbatore district has seen a significant increase after District Collector S. Nagarajan declared 1,049.74 hectares of land, as reserve land. With this, the size of the forest area in the district has increased from 1,22,215.13 ha to 1,23,264.87 ha, said District Forest Officer D. Venkatesh.According to the official, 1,049.74 ha of land, belonging to the Revenue and the Forest Department, were declared as reserve lands, under section 26 of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882. The 1,049.74 ha declared as reserve lands in the district are located in Kemmaramplayam, Karamadai, Tholampalayam and Marathur in Mettupalayam taluk, Odayakulam in Anaimalai taluk, Zamin Uthukuli and Pollachi town in Pollachi taluk.Forest Minister K. Ramachandran appreciated Mr. Nagarajan and Coimbatore Forest Division for the achievement. The Minister told officials that Coimbatore district has set a model for other districts by increasing its forest cover and protecting crucial passage of wild animals — referring to the declaration of 50.79 hectares of private land in the Kallar elephant corridor area as private forest. Kattanjimalai, located at Marathur village in Mettupalayam taluk, is the largest single area which was declared as reserve land. The hillock, spread over 817 ha with thick vegetation, was classified as government poramboke Poachers used to hunt lesser-known species at this place and the Department had registered three cases related to the use of country-made explosives for hunting. With the place declared as reserve land, Forest Department staff will conduct regular patrols and monitor the area,” said Mr. Venkatesh. The Coimbatore forest division has become bigger by 1,049.74 hectares, with district collector S
declaring the parcels of revenue department land abutting the reserve forest in Mettupalayam, Anaimalai and Pollachi taluks as the reserve land. With this, the Forest cover has increased to 1,23,264.87 hectares from 1,22,215.13 hectares.
Forest minister K Ramachandran has appreciated the collector and forest officials for increasing the forest cover in the division to protect the passage of wild animals. Earlier, district forest officer D Venkatesh and team had collected details of the revenue department land adjacent to the reserve forest at Kemmampalayam, Karamadai, Tholampalayam and Maruthur in Mettupalayam taluk, Odayakulam in Anaimalai taluk, and Zamin Uthukuli in Pollachi taluk and submitted the same before the district collector a few days ago with a request to declare them as the reserve land.said .they had identified 1,049.74 hectares, of which just and the remaining to the revenue department,” a source privy to the development said.
This is the first elephant corridor in the state to be brought under the private forest act. The move will help preserve the most critical elephant corridor in the state. The landowner can enjoy the property, but cannot undertake any development work without obtaining permission from the forest department. The landowner also cannot fell the trees,” the DFO said.
By: G Gnana Priya dharshini
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