Revenue Department officials sealed 27 illegal resorts operating in the buffer zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) on Sunday as per a Supreme Court directive.
The resorts are among a total of 39 resorts that were constructed along the corridor in the buffer zone of the tiger reserve.
Officials said the Nilgiris District Administration formed three teams to seal the resorts at Mavanallah, Bokkapuram, Singara and Vazhaithottam areas on Sunday. On Friday, Revenue Department officials issued notices to the owners of the buildings, instructing them to vacate the premises by Sunday morning.
Police accompanied members of the three teams when they sealed the premises. Most owners watched passively as their properties were sealed. However, the owner of one resort, ‘Bear Mountain,’ in Bokkapuram, argued with the officials. However, with the help of the local police, the premises were sealed.
SC directive
Apart from directing the district administration to close down 27 of the illegal resorts, the Supreme Court had directed 12 other resort owners to submit the required approvals and documents they claimed they had to to the district administration within 48 hours.
Speaking to The Hindu, Nilgiris Collector Innocent Divya said that of the 12 resorts, 11 submitted documents claiming to have the approval to function. “We have formed a team to verify the authenticity of the documents at the ground level, and ascertain whether they do have the approvals required,” said the Collector.
She added the district administration will take a couple of days to verify the submitted documents.