The High Court of Madras had managed to reduce the level of tourism in Udhagamandalam (Ooty) and Kodaikanal by installing e-pass system during the tourist season. Now, the same court has embarked on another exercise aimed at combating the spread of exotic and invasive species like Lantana camara and Senna spectabilis in order to restore shola forests in the Western Ghats.
On Friday, June 14, 2024, Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy met with secretaries from the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department; Public Works Department; Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests inside High Court buildings where they insisted for an absolute removal of such invasive species.
Conservator of Forests & Field Director Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Udhagamandalam along with amici curiae T.Mohan, Chevanan Mohan, Rahul Balaji, M.Santhanaraman were also present. It was a special Division Bench comprising Justices Kumar and Chakravarthy, hearing a batch of forest-related cases, that had suggested the conduct of such a meet on April 13, 2024.
However, it could not be organized on that day due to failure on part law officers. On June 7th while hearing some related case this bench did not take it lightly hence forced it to meet on Friday discussing those issues regarding progress made so far in removing invasive species challenges faced by state machinery among others.
Alternative policy
While Tamil Nadu being brought first State in India having separate policy called Tamil Nadu Policy on Invasive Alien Plant Species and Ecological Restoration of Habitats (TNPIPER), the judges expressed their concern about how slow removal process is going especially concerning invasive alien plant species such as Lantana camara and Senna spectabilis from Western Ghats.
They stated that only 2,000 hectares out of intended target of 3 lakh hectares had been cleared at not even one per cent area. When the government authorities highlighted challenges such as lack of local support, the judges said, private companies could also be involved in the work through their Corporate Social Responsiblity(CSR) activities.
The judges argued that this should be done considering that Tamil Nadu is leading with regard to other issues like due to movement of wild animals and rainfall hence they impressed upon the officers on necessity for qualitative action so that Tamil Nadu may set an example for other States. Further, there was consultation on eradicating seemai karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) from various places across the State.
Hence officials were told to give progress reports during legal proceedings which would take place from June 28, 2024.
