On 6 May 2024, Farmers from the Thondamuthur region in Coimbatore staged a protest against the Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s recommendation to designate agricultural lands, which have been thriving for generations, as elephant corridors.
Kumar, a farmer from Thondamuthur and the chairman of Velliangiri Uzhavan Producer Company Limited located in Coimbatore, voiced his concerns on this matter. He stated that a recent news article highlighted the Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s identification of 42 new elephant corridors across Tamil Nadu. Upon reviewing the draft report published on the department’s website, it was discovered that 4 new elephant corridors were proposed in Coimbatore alone. The areas listed as elephant corridors included farmlands, residences, and temples belonging to agricultural members.
Kumar expressed dismay over the fact that no farmers from their area were consulted during the purported study conducted by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. The draft report was formulated by individuals with limited knowledge of the region’s intricate topography and ecological dynamics. It was disconcerting to see areas where farming has sustained families for generations being recommended as elephant corridors. The absence of any historical instances of elephant migration in their area raised doubts about the credibility of such designations.
The proposal to acquire 450 acres of land to establish and expand non-existent elephant corridors, as outlined in the report, was vehemently opposed by the farmers. They argued that displacing them under the pretext of protecting elephants would violate their fundamental rights. Furthermore, the designation of areas housing Hindu temples, including the Velliangiri Andavar Temple, Marudamalai Temple, Anuvavi Temple, Pannari Temple, and Ponnuthu Amman Temple, as elephant corridors was seen as an infringement on their right to worship.
The farmers urged the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider the designation of the “Velliangiri Andavar Temple – Marudamalai” as an elephant corridor. They emphasized the need for proper field studies and consultations with local stakeholders, including farmers and community members, before making such decisions.
(With Inputs From Covaipost)
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