SC warns of paramilitary deployment if Agasthyamalai encroachments not cleared

The Supreme Court on Wednesday warned that it might be compelled to deploy paramilitary forces if encroachments within the protected areas of the Agasthyamalai ecological landscape are not removed expeditiously, as ordered in May. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing issues concerning the protection of reserved forests, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu. The court also categorically stated that the cultivation of kapok in the area must be abandoned. On May 29, it had directed the state to formulate a time-bound plan to remove encroachments from the protected areas, including the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve, and Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary.