SC orders Agasthyamalai encroachment removal

The India — Supreme Court of India>>> has issued a significant order directing the states of India — Tamil Nadu>>> and India — Kerala>>> to prepare and implement a time-bound eviction plan for encroachments within the Agasthyamalai ecological landscape. This protected area, encompassing tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, has seen decades of illegal occupation and construction, including 116 government and public utility structures built without approval. Alarmingly, 118 serving and retired government employees were identified among the 4,601 encroachers occupying over 5,000 hectares of forest land. The court mandated disciplinary and legal action against these government servants, along with potential additional penalties and environmental restitution charges to be deposited with the India — Tamil Nadu State Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority>>> (CAMPA). Furthermore, a blanket moratorium has been imposed on extending welfare schemes and infrastructure support to encroached areas to prevent legitimizing illegal occupation. All illegal resorts, commercial establishments, and unauthorized government infrastructure must be dismantled within six months. The Empowered Committee (CEC) will oversee compliance, receiving monthly reports from the states and submitting quarterly status reports to the court. The India — Supreme Court of India>>> also warned of deploying paramilitary forces if state governments fail to comply with the directions, emphasizing the constitutional obligation to protect ecologically sensitive regions.