(a) whether the National Board of Wildlife has asked the
Government to demolish hotels, resorts, guest houses or any other
permanent concrete structures in the Sigur Corridor, the only
corridor for linking of elephants in the Eastern & Western chats
of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
(d) the extent to which success has been achieved by the
Government as a result thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a), (b), (c) & (d) No such directions have been issued by the
National Board for Wild Life. However, vide common order dated 7.4.2011
passed in Writ Petition (Civil) Nos. 10098 of 2008; 2839 and 2762 of
2009; 1897, 2915, 3326, 4978, 5740, 5774, 7672, 7960 to 7963, 8022,
8023, 8237, 23578, 23939, 23950, 23951, 25713, 26053, 27550, 27561
and 28580 of 2010; 1519, 1520 and 2845 of 2011; Rev. A. No.131 of 2010;
M.P. SR.88127/2009 and Rev. Appl. SR. 27427 of 2010, Madras High Court
has, inter alia, directed the resort owners and other private land
owners to vacate and hand over vacant possession of the lands falling
within the notified ‘elephant corridor’ in Sigur plateau to the
District Collector, Nilgiris within three months. The High Court also
permitted the Government of Tamil Nadu to go on with the implementation
of the project as notified in G.O. Ms. No. 125 dated 31.8.2010, to
notify and improve the elephant corridor. The affected private persons
have filed Special Leave Petitions to Appeal (SLPs) against the
abovementioned order passed by Madras High Court. While admitting the
SLPs, the Supreme Court has ordered stay of dispossession and demolition
of the buildings of the petitioners till further orders.