High Court orders shutdown of 87 illegal resorts in tiger reserve

The Madras High Court has issued directions for the swift shutdown of 87 illegal resorts functioning within the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, a critical wildlife habitat in Tamil Nadu. The judicial intervention comes as part of efforts to protect the reserve's ecological integrity and enforce existing environmental regulations.

Beyond ordering the immediate cessation of operations at these unauthorised facilities, the court has mandated that authorities commence demolition proceedings against the illegal structures. The directive underscores the judiciary's commitment to curbing unauthorised commercial activities within protected wildlife areas.

The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, spread across parts of the Erode and Krishnagiri districts, has faced persistent pressure from unauthorised construction and tourism-related development. Such activities pose significant threats to the habitat of endangered tiger populations and other wildlife species dependent on the reserve's ecosystems.

The court's order reflects growing judicial scrutiny of environmental violations in India's protected areas. Authorities are now expected to enforce the directive systematically, though implementation challenges remain common in monitoring vast reserve territories and addressing entrenched commercial interests.