https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Tamil Nadu Forest Department Acquires Private Land for Conservation Efforts in SMTR

This reserve, established in 2021, stands as the youngest among the five tiger reserves in the state
Indian Masterminds Stories

In a landmark move, the Tamil Nadu forest department has recently acquired 30.41 acres of previously privately-owned land located within the core area of the Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR). This reserve, established in 2021, stands as the youngest among the five tiger reserves in the state.

Under the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013, the land was acquired through private negotiation. A sum of Rs 2.33 crore was disbursed to seven landowners who willingly relinquished their ownership rights. This marks the first instance in India where state authorities have procured private land for non-commercial purposes, specifically geared towards forest and biodiversity conservation efforts.

The SMTR holds a unique status in conservation efforts, with substantial portions of its core area comprising privately owned patta lands, historically utilized for coffee and cardamom cultivation. Originating during the British colonial era, vast stretches of pristine forest were cleared for cultivation, subsequently falling under the ownership of various zamindars from regions like Gandamanaickanur, Erasakkanaickanur, Saptur, and Seithur. Some landowners have voluntarily surrendered their patta lands to the forest department due to challenges such as labor scarcity, wildlife threats, and overall difficult accessibility.

One such significant land parcel lies adjacent to the High Wavy mountains area in Chinnamanur, Megamalai. Deputy Director of SMTR, S. Anand, highlighted the critical importance of this land parcel as part of a vital wildlife corridor frequently utilized by elephants and tigers, as evidenced by camera trap images.

Locally known as Yegan Raja Board, this area’s history intertwines with the story of Yegan Raja, a lumberjack who facilitated forest exploitation for British officers, ultimately acquiring land from the Gandamanur zamindar. Over time, ownership of the land transitioned through various hands.

Anand elaborated on the challenges faced by landowners in cultivating these lands, including rugged terrain, wildlife encounters, labor shortages, and more. Subsequently, negotiations ensued to procure the land at a fair price, with the district-level private negotiation committee, led by the Theni collector, determining a compensation amount of Rs 2.33 crore, triple the guideline value of the plots, accompanied by solatium for physical assets.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
SAIL resized
SAIL Bags 'Star Performer' Award from EEPC for Export Excellence During Pandemic Years - Check Here To Know More
NFL _ National Fertilizers Limited
National Fertilizers Ltd Faces Rs. 94.84 Crore Tax Demand Over GST Refunds
Screenshot 2025-05-31 204103
PM Modi Launches Major Thermal Power Projects in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh - Check All Details
IRCON
IRCON Bags Rs. 1,068 Crore Contract for Ganga Rail Bridge in Bihar - All Details Inside
retirement
3 Senior Executives to Retire from Key PSUs in India, P V Ravitej Concludes 38-year Long Journey With BPCL - All Details Inside
Rajiv Krishna IPS
Breaking: IPS Rajeev Krishna Appointed as Acting DGP of Uttar Pradesh, Becomes 5th Consecutive Officer in Acting Role - Know More About Him
Bihar Government-resized-IM
47 IAS Officers Reshuffled in Bihar Ahead of Polls, 17 Districts Get New DMs, 5 New Commissioners - Check Circular Here
PSUs
PSUs: IRS Anurag Prasad Repatriated Early for Promotion; IAS M Muthukumar Appointed Director (Finance) at BHAVINI
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
From Gwalior to the Top 20: What Drove Finance Pro Madhav Agarwal to Crack UPSC CSE 2024 with AIR 16? | Exclusive
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
ANUBHAV SINGH UPSC IFS 2024
9 Years, 8 Attempts, 7 Failures: How Anubhav Singh Cracked UPSC IFS 2024 with AIR 3 Against All Odds | Exclusive
Anubhav Singh’s inspiring journey to UPSC IFS Rank 3 showcases relentless perseverance, strategic preparation,...
Jogender Sihag
“I Cleared UPSC, But My Grandfather isn’t Here to Hear it,” Jogender Sihag, AIR 521, UPSC CSE 2024
"Life is short; make the most of it, whether in civil service or any other field. Just have a clear vision...
WhatsApp Image 2025-05-28 at 18.56
Didn’t Clear UPSC But Found Something Greater: A Story That Will Change How You See Success
She left a top finance job for UPSC, did not clear but built a thriving wellness brand instead. Veda's...
Social Media
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
UPSC Latest IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Tomorrow: ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Last-Minute Motivation for Aspirants
His five-post thread offers encouragement, practical advice, and emotional support - not just for those...
Anupam Sharma IFS
#BoycottTurkey: IFS Officer Anupam Sharma Sparks Nationalist Call to Action
IFS Sharma urged citizens to avoid Turkish agricultural imports
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
SAIL resized
SAIL Bags 'Star Performer' Award from EEPC for Export Excellence During Pandemic Years - Check Here To Know More
NFL _ National Fertilizers Limited
National Fertilizers Ltd Faces Rs. 94.84 Crore Tax Demand Over GST Refunds
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT