- Taking serious cognizance of the increasing encroachment on forest land and illegal constructions in the Agasthyamalai region, the Supreme Court of India issued significant directives on May 30, 2026.
- The Court has ordered the governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala to take time-bound action to remove all illegal encroachments and unauthorized structures from the protected forest areas.
- This region forms part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve and is considered to be of immense importance from the perspective of biodiversity and wildlife conservation.
- The Supreme Court clarified that resorts, commercial establishments, government facilities, and other structures constructed within forest areas without permission are not in conformity with the law, and necessary action must be taken against them.
- The Court's directives specifically pertain to the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve and the Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, where complaints regarding large-scale encroachment have surfaced.
- According to a report by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), more than 4,600 encroachers are occupying over 5,000 hectares of forest land within the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve.
- The report further notes that 116 government and public utility structures in the region have been constructed without obtaining the necessary statutory approvals.
- This verdict by the Supreme Court is being hailed as a significant step towards forest conservation, the protection of biodiversity, and the maintenance of ecological balance.
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