The New Indian Express ·
Plan for wildife sanctuary in TN's Teri areas hits a wall
THOOTHUKUDI: The state Department of Natural Resources has strongly opposed the plan to declare Kuthiraimozhi and Sathankulam red-sand desert areas as wildife sanctuary and ecosensitive zone, stating that IREL-TAMIN plans to establish beach sand mineral processing plant as part of the Union government’s announcement to establish a dedicated Rare Earth Corridor.
The proposal to declare the entire mineral-bearing land as wildlife sanctuary would significantly affect future scientific exploration, organised exploitation of heavy minerals, and the union government’s Rare Earth Corridor project, states the Department of Geology & Mining, which is under the Department of Natural Resources.
A demarcation committee consisting of officials of geology and mining, revenue, and survey departments had outlined mineral-bearing lands in Kuthiraimozhi and Veeramanikkam villages to an extent of 5,547 hectare including 5152.51 ha of Kuthiraimozhi Reserve Forest. Similarly, 2093.87 ha of mineral-bearing land at Puthukulam, Naduvakurichi, Arasur 1, Arasur 2 villages, including 893.78 ha of Sathankulam Reserve Forest, was earmarked, states a report accessed by TNIE.
