The vacation of DMK Forest Minister M. Mathiventhan at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve has sparked controversy among conservationists. Mr. Mathiventhan was reportedly staying at ‘Jungle Hut’, a resort located within the notified elephant corridor in Sigur, which has been a subject of scrutiny and legal action due to its location and construction.
The ‘Jungle Hut’ is among 12 resorts flagged by the Supreme Court-appointed Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor Inquiry Committee in 2023. The committee highlighted that these resorts, including De Rock, Rolling Stones, Forest Hills Farm and Guest House, Jungle Retreat, and Gordon Jungle Properties, collectively house 74 buildings. These constructions were noted as being large commercial establishments, not small residential buildings, and were built without all the necessary approvals. The committee directed the Nilgiris district administration to take “necessary action” against the owners and called for the demolition or voluntary dismantling of these illegal structures.
Despite these orders, no substantial action has been taken to remove the buildings along the elephant corridor. This inaction has raised suspicions among conservationists that government officials may be colluding with resort owners to maintain the status quo.
K. Mohanraj, a noted conservationist from Tamil Nadu, criticized the Minister’s choice of accommodation. “There are forest department-run guest houses in Mudumalai. There is no need for the Forest Minister to stay in a resort, part of which has been deemed to have been functioning illegally,” he was quoted saying in a report by The Hindu. Mohanraj further suggested that the Minister’s decision to stay at the resort indicates a possible alignment with big businesses, questioning the government’s commitment to protecting the elephant corridor.
Responding to the concerns, Mr. Mathiventhan told The Hindu that his stay at the resort was purely for convenience. “I am here on vacation with my family. We found it challenging to manage children while staying in forest guest houses, so we opted for a private property,” he explained.
(With inputs from The Hindu)
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