‘Clampdown on illegal real estate projects in the Nilgiris’

Authorities in the Nilgiris district have issued demolition notices to 35 illegally constructed resorts in the Segur Elephant Corridor within the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). These resorts were built without proper authorization, encroaching on a crucial migration pathway for Asian elephants, which ensures genetic dispersal between the Western and Eastern Ghats. The resort owners have been given 15 days to demolish or dismantle the structures, failing which the local panchayat will carry out the demolition. Additionally, three other resorts that did not appear before the Supreme Court-appointed Segur Elephant Corridor Inquiry Committee are also facing potential demolition orders. The committee, headed by a retired judge, was established to address grievances raised by resort owners against the Nilgiris district administration. In 2023, the committee directed the government to demolish the illegally built resorts within the tiger reserve. This crackdown underscores the importance of protecting wildlife corridors and adhering to legal and environmental regulations in real estate development.