Jumbo space for big cats in Nilgiri Hills

In a move aimed to provide breathing space to big cats and safe corridors for elephants from Western Ghats to Eastern Ghats and vice-versa, the Union Environment Ministry has issued a draft notification declaring 438 sq km of area around the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Nilgiri Hills as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ).

The reserve is not only conducive for tigers and elephants but also is rich in flora and fauna. It is home to many rare, endemic, endangered and threatened species such as cimai-velve etti, Indian star tortoise, king cobra, Indian rock python, Nilgiri wood pigeon, aanai kuru, pazhamkaach, bi-coloured frog, Indian black turtle, red sand boa, pallid harrier, darter and Malabar pied hornbill among others.

The decision will ensure ban on construction and commercial mining activities and restrict hotels and resorts near the tiger reserve which supports an ecologically sustainable habitat in Western Ghats landscape for about 60-65 tigers, 600 to 800 Asian elephant and gaur apart from other animals of significance, which forms rich prey base for the predators striped cats.

Declared as a tiger reserve (with the legal status of a national park) in 2013, the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Core) is situated at the tri-junction of three States — Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala — juxtaposed with contiguous forests all around.

The total area of the ESZ is 438.904 sq km consisting of Gudalur Forest Division (25.657 sq km), Nilgiris North Forest Division (409.825 sq km) and core zone (3.422 sq km).

“The area is rich in flora and fauna and needs to be protected from degradation. Part of the designated elephant corridor which connects Moyar and Sathyamangalam, the reserve harbours 227 species of birds, 50 species of fishes, 21 species of amphibians, 34 species of reptiles. Three primate species are found here.

“This reserve has an endemic fish species namely puntius mudumalaiensis and is habitat of white backed vultures are found in the reserve,” a senior official from the Ministry said.

A monitoring panel headed by the collector of Nilgiris, Udhagamadalam and comprised of environmental experts besides MTR deputy director among others has already been constituted to keep a tab on the implementation of the law relating to the ESZ.

As per the draft notification issued on June 29, the activities that will be prohibited include all new and existing (minor and major minerals) stone quarrying and crushing units. Other banned sectors are industries causing pollution whether water, air, soil, noise, etc, major hydroelectric project and discharge of untreated effluent in water bodies, expansion or setting up of saw mills and brick kilns.

Similarly, no new commercial hotels and resorts and new commercial construction shall be permitted within one km of the boundary of the protected area or up to the extent of ESZ. Hotels and resorts will have to follow the Tourism Master Plan and guidelines as applicable, according to the draft notification. The Ministry has put the draft notification on its website, seeking suggestions and comments from the people.