PALNI HILLS CONSERVATIONS COUNCIL 10th ANNUAL REPORT - 1994-95 This is the 10th year of the PHCC's effort in Preserving the flora and fauna of the Palni Hills, and initiating eco-restoration projects. The outgoing Executive Committee consisted of the following members:- 1. Mr.R.Kannan President 2. Mrs. Pippa Mukherjee Secretary 3. Mr.C. Jeyakaran Treasurer 4. Mr. Navroz Mody Vice President 5. Fr.K.M.Matthew Vice President 6. Mrs. Girija Viraraghavan Joint Secretary 7. Mr.M.S.Viraraghavan Executive Committee Member 8. Mr.J.Nath " 9. Mr.Israel Bhooshi " 10. Mr.Jean Pouyet " 11. Mrs.Tara Murali Co-opted member The Executive Committee met 12 times since the last Annual General Meeting which was held in May 1994. Membership: The Total membership of the PHCC as of 31st March 1995 is as follows 1. Life members - 128 2. Annual members - 51 3. Institutional members - 2 ----- Total 181 ----- Here we present the activities of the council during the year 1994 - 95 and the statement of audited accounts. 1. PALNI HILLS WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROJECT: Through this programme tree planting and soil conservation works have been carried out in three microwatersheds, in about 500 acres of land belonging to small farmers. The project has been funded by the CAPART/DANIDA combine for watershed development. A total of 1,25,000 tree seedlings and grafts have been planted in the three project sites at Kallapuram and Andipatti in the Kudhirayar Watershed; Gundupatti at the Kookal Watershed, and Viruveedu -Shanthipuram in the Vaigai Watersheds. Further works are in progress for the coming year, and about 2,00,000 trees will be planted with some 200 small farmers participating in the programme. A team from the Ministry of Rural Development visited the project sites recently, and has commended the councils work with farmers at the three watersheds; it has suggested that the PHCC may be one of the Project Implementing Agency, in its recent government programme of Rural Development on watershed basis for Dindigul Anna District. 2. AFFORESTATION AT FOOTHILLS - TREE PLANTING CENTRES Our tree centres at the foothills have been assisted by the Govt. of India, NAEB at new Delhi. Afforestation works have been carried out at four watersheds namely Athoor, Siruvattukadu Kombai, Genguvarpatti and Kudhirayar. A total of 1,25,000 tree seedings have been raised and distributed to farmers in these watersheds, with a view to increase tree cover at the foothills. About 150 farmers have benefitted from this programme. As with our other project sites, nursery work at these centres are in progress for the coming planting season. 3. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME The council has revived its co-operation and partnership with the SSNC, Sweden, to pursue environmentally and socially sustainable development in the hills. A project with 6 modules has been approved for the year, and work has started. A brief description of the various sub projects is presented module wise below: a) Conserving Bee Species of Palni Hills: This module aims to revive beekeeping with Apis cerana indica, which has been severely affected by a virus disease known as the Thai Sac Brood Virus disease. Restocking healthy colonies at the seven Experimental Apiaries at different locations in the hills and foothills is in progress. A new Experimental Apiary has been started at Batlagundu along the course of the Manjalar river. Sites have been located for starting Shola Conservation apiaries in the hills. Trials with Top Bar Hives, and Hives made with locally available materials are in progress to bring down the cost of hives and reduce the pressure on timber resources. b) Monitoring Water Resources of the Palni Hills: The Kodaikanal lake serves as a source of drinking water for the tourists and Kodai residents in the summer months, and also to the temple town of Palani; it is suffering from eutrophication due to anthropogenic activities. Fish kills have become common probably due to the low levels of dissolved oxygen. The coucil has started a lake water testing programme to identify causes of eutrophication. The testing programme will form the basis for an education compaign, to increase awareness among the student community in schools, about the state of the Kodaikanal lake, and the reasons for the degradation. The council also proposes to take up the matter with the concerned authorities and help initiate remedial action. Further the entom of auna of selected rivers flowing from the hills is to be studied, to start a monitoring programme. Provision of clean drinking water to the tribals at the Siruvattukadu Kombai settlement is a priority. Sites have been identified with the tribals living here for the digging of two open wells. The beneficiaries have agreed to participate in the construction, and maintenance of these wells. This will go a long way in improving the health of the people at Puliangasam and Thalayuthukadu. c) Fuelwood Module: It was decided that the PHCC should start new tree nurseries in more watersheds to help farmers restock their agricultural lands with productive trees. This is proposed to be achieved by starting new tree nurseries at Kollangarayar, Pallangi, Moongil Pallam, Gundar and Maruthanadhiyar watersheds. A Study of use of firewood by non-domestic users is underway at the foothills. This will throw light on fuelwood use by activites other than household cooking purposes. At present the single largest user of firewood at the foothills appears to be the large number of Brick Kilns situated at Usilampatty, Batlagundu Periyakulam. Further research is in progress to identify quantities used, species prefered and source of fuel. It is proposed to analyse the data gathered and suggest sustainable options to reduce pressure on the already ravaged forest of Palnis foothills. d) Sanctuary: The Government of Tamil Nadu as per G.O.Ms No. 82 Environment and Forests Dept.dt. 11.03.94 constituted a committee to look into the feasibility of creating a Wildlife Sanctuary around Kodaikanal and Mannavanur. The PHCC was also appointed to be a member of this 5 member committee. The committee met several times, and conducted field visits, and submitted a report to the Govt. recommending the formation of a Sanctuary, encompassing 900 Sq. KM in extent, and which will be a natural extention of the Indira Gandhi National Park (Anamallais). The proposed areas of the Sanctuary are already notified as Reserve forests. The committee also recommends that the Forest Department and PHCC should collaborate in preparing eco development plans in the agricultural lands bordering the proposed Sanctuary. This module will study the impact of the existing agricultural landuse and forest use patterns. It is a priority that data is gathered on the rights of tribals and farmers settled adjoining forests, so that we will be in a position to advise the Government on appropriate measures to respect people's rights, and avoid confrontation between conservation efforts and the rights of the local people. In this connection the PHCC will also take up conservation education in a few selected settlements. Presently a volunteer is studying the use of forest resources by tribals at the Siruvattukadu Kombai area. Members must be aware that this area is to be a protected area for the endangered Grizzled Giant Squirrel. This study will throw light on use of forests,by women in particular. e) Hill Area Urbanisation: Unplanned urbanisation is continuing unchecked in and around Kodaikanal. Resorts and hotels are mushrooming everywhere, without development of necessary civic infrastructures. These new commercial establishments are competing with the local people for resources like water, fuel and most importantly man power. Under this module studies will be undertaken to analyse the effect of urban development in the hill area, specially with respect to water availability in the lean season. f) Palni Hills Conservation Council Environmental Centre: The Council was able to buy about 20 acres of land 4 years ago, at the Southern foothills Ghat Road for establishing an arbore tum. This was possible with the generous donation from our Patron member Dr. Rachel Reuben. Part of this land has been planted with 67 species of trees this year in the "Reuben arboretum." A tree nursery established in 1992 caters to the needs of small farmers of the Genguvarpatti area. Under this Sustainable Development Programme, a sanction has been obtained to establish an Environmental Centre in the remaining 10 acres of land, which lies on the west side of the Ghat Road. The environmental Centre will demonstrate Envrionmentlly friendly architecture, soft energy technologies, proper landuse models for the foothills, and serve as a debating centre for raising the various issues of ecological importance facing the Palni Hills. This year the building will be completed, and live fencing planted with different species to form a hedge. The soil conservations works are underway at present. Once constructed, the building will serve as a training centre for students, farmers and all interested in trees and the environment. 4. KADAVAKURICHI INTERFACE FORESTRY PROJECT: Around the Kadavakurichi Reserve Forest adjoining Batlagundu-Nilakottai the Council has been active for the past two years in creating awareness among the people about community forestry. In the four villages of Kombaipatti, C.Pudur, Milakaipatty and Veelinayakan patty representing four micro-water sheds of the Kadavakurichi, the Council has formed community organisation like women's sangams, farmers groups and youth clubs. The Council also runs evening study centres for children and school dropouts in all the four villages. Besides these activities the council also keeps four tree nurseries to serve the farming community to improve their landuse. For the past one year the council has been involved in negotiations with the Forest Department officials, in implementing a Joint Forestry Management Programme. Under the concept of JFM the PHCC will facilitate a process where in the people will develop and protect the Forests in the Kadavakurichi Reserve Forest, in co-ordination with the Forest Department. The benefits from the forests in the form of biomass and monetary gains will be shared by the villagers as per an agreement to be reached yet, with the Forest Department. This programme is supported by ISO/Swedforest in Madras. and SIDA in Delhi. 5. TREE SEED CENTRE AT ODUKKAM The Tree Seed Centre started in 1989 at our Odukkam Tree Planting site near Dindigul, has been performing well without any special project assistance for the past few years. It caters to the needs of farmers, Government Departments and urban people for their needs of seeds and tree seedlings. At present about 70 species of tree seeds are collected and distributed. Increasing the bio-diversity in farmers's fields in forest tree resources is the prime objective of the Odukkam tree seed centre. 6. COMMUNITY VILLAGE PROJECT AT VILPATTI This Project aims to improve the living condition of the Poorer sections of the Vilpatti Village. The project is funded by the London based charity group intercare U.K. It operates a creche, and a day care centre for children of the village. A clinic is run by trained personnel, who help the people to get immediate medical attention. The tailoring unit is providing valuable training to unemployed village youth. The Vilpatti Village Project is to become an autonomous body once the village sangams are capable of running the Project. Intercare U.K. have formally requested that the project be handed over to the project beneficiaries. Once the legal formalities pertaining to this are ratified, it is hoped that the Vilpatti village project will be granted self Governing status. 7. LEGAL MATTERS On the legal front a significant achievement has been the recent judgement of the Madras High Court(WritPetition No.1234/94)ordering demolition of the 5 unauthorized floors of M/s.Pleasant Stay Hotel. It would appear that the court took a very serious view of the following 4 factors: 1) The behaviour of the respondent hotel in continuing to construct the un authorized floors in the face of the High Court stay order, for which the court was compelled to hold them guilty of comtempt of court,. 2) The patently absurd argument put forth on behalf of the hotel that 5 of the 7 floors constituted a basement; as if hotel guests could be put up in the basement! 3) The failure to obtain environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Government of India, which is mandatory in all cases of hotels costing Rs.5 crores or more, being constructed in places above 1000 metres altitude. 4) The attempt by the builder to divert the attention of the Court from the gravity of his violation by the specious argument that he was singled out for legal action when there were many other violations. On this, the Court has clearly remarked that it is not the function of PHCC to pursue legal action against all violations, but it was clearly the duty of the State Government to do so. In fact the judgement contains a clear direction to the Kodaikanal local authority to report to the Court within 3 months on the action taken in the large number of cases of unauthorized construction. It should be stressed that even this single case has caused a severe financial drain on the resources of PHCC, in spite of fees of counsel being graciously waived. It is clearly impossible financially for the PHCC to proceed legally against the worst offenders; and there can be no doubt that the present case was the most serious of the many violations that have taken place at the time a few years ago when the case was filed. As could be expected, the High Court orders, and especially the direction to report on other unauthorized constructions have disconcerted the builders guilty of violations, and other vested interests, who have got used to doing what they please with impunity. An active slander compaign has been launched against the PHCC. Meanwhile, on behalf of PHCC, it has been suggested to the authorities that a distinction should be made between large scale commercial constructions (including Resorts) which pose more serious environmental and other hazards, and cases of residential buildings/small commercial constructions. As it is, the rules require that all types of constructions are to be sanctioned at the state level. We have suggested that the power to sanction residential buildings which conform to Master Plan regulations and other rules, should be vested in the local authority. The stipulation that even such buildings should be sanctioned at the State level causes needless hardship to genuine persons, and perhaps accounts for a major number of violations which may be of a technical nature. The judgement of the High Court is likely to be contested in the Supreme Court and we are taking suitable steps in the matter. We would like to place on record our deepest appreciation of the able and indefatigable advocacy of Mr. Sriram Panchu and his associates, which has resulted in an unprecedented victory for the environmental movement in the Palnis. 8. CONCLUSION As can be seen from the report, the past year has been a favourable one for the Council's effort in preserving the flora and fauna of the Palni Hills. Progress has been made in pursuing the formation of the Palni Hills National Park; The Government appointed committee has recommended to the Government to declare 900Sq.Km of the Palnis as a Sancturary. This year has also witnessed a landmark judgement by the High Court in issuing orders to demolish an unauthorised construction in Kodaikanal Town, which was built in contempt of the same courts earlier orders. Tree Planting and nursery activities started in 1987, is going on well without any interruption all these years, with a total of 4,01,500 trees planted and distributed under the different projects to farmers during 1994. It has been an excellent year with respect to our mandate for increasing the tree cover at the hills and foothills in co-operation with farmers. We hope to keep the momentum and sustain the tree planting work, in the coming years. The council would like to thank the staff of the PHCC for their dedicated service in the cause of environment protection and improvement. We also thank our auditors M/s. Madhavan and Elango for their prompt and efficient service. All these activities were made possible by the generous help from various donor agencies both at the national and international level. We wish to record our heartfelt thanks to them for helping us in our cause. But much remains to be done. KODAIKANAL R. KANNAN 03.06.1995 PRESIDENT