NGT directs authorities to keep sealed resort buildings shut in Segur elephant corridor

The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed authorities to ensure that resort buildings sealed within the Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor remain closed and that no fresh construction or commercial activity is permitted in the notified corridor.

Observing that the legality of the disputed resorts is already before the Madras High Court, the Tribunal refrained from examining the demolition issue but ordered strict surveillance to protect the corridor and facilitate the free movement of elephants.

The bench, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Prashant Gargava, passed the directions while disposing of a suo motu case initiated on the basis of a The Hindu report published in May 2024, which highlighted the Nilgiris district administration’s alleged inaction in demolishing 12 resorts despite directions issued by the Supreme Court-appointed Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor Inquiry Committee. 

The news report also questioned the then Tamil Nadu Forest Minister M. Mathiventhan’s stay at one of the resorts within the notified elephant corridor.

Noting that writ petitions challenging the demolition notices are pending before a Special Bench of the Madras High Court, the bench said expressing any opinion on the legality of the constructions could prejudice the proceedings.

According to the Nilgiris District Collector’s report, the Jungle Hut resort has nine buildings, six of which have statutory approvals, while the remaining three have remained sealed since 2018 for operating without commercial approvals. The inquiry found that the then Forest Minister stayed only in the approved buildings and that the district administration had no official record of his visit as it was a personal one.

Although demolition notices were issued to the resort owner in August 2024 in compliance with the Inquiry Committee’s directions, their implementation has been kept in abeyance following the pending writ petitions.

Observing that the Segur Plateau Elephant Corridor is a critical wildlife link connecting forests in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, the bench said fragmentation caused by unauthorised constructions and commercial establishments threatens elephant movement and increases human-elephant conflict. 

It directed authorities to keep all sealed buildings closed, prevent fresh construction or commercial activity within the notified corridor and maintain strict surveillance by removing barriers to elephant movement. Authorities were also asked to undertake periodic inspections to prevent unnatural elephant deaths due to electrocution, illegal fencing, and other human-induced causes.