Tiruvannamalai Authorities Issue Eviction Notices for Encroached Land on Arunachala Hills

Quick Summary

• Encroachments in the arunachala Hills along the Girivalam Path near Arunachaleswara temple in Tiruvannamalai will soon be converted into Reserve Forest land.
• Tiruvannamalai Corporation has initiated eviction of illegal settlers to prevent landslips, especially during monsoon.
• 143 settlements, mostly houses, have been issued eviction notices; water and power supply will be disconnected before demolition starts.
• As per a study by the Revenue Department:

– Total encroachments: ~3,535 illegal structures spanning 576 acres.
– Forest land affected: ~20 acres.- Initial phase to focus on demolishing 1,535 illegal structures in phases. Notices were issued to at least 400 houses.

• Heavy rains caused a landslip on december 1, 2024, killing seven people-a key catalyst for current action.
• Arunachala Hills spread over nine km radius and are part of Adi Annamalai Reserve Forest (900 hectares). The area includes disputed land with untraceable records.
• Actions are being coordinated by Collector K. Tharpagaraj involving multiple departments-revenue, police, civic body, forests-and Tangedco power utility.

[Published Photo: former HC Judge Justice M. Govind Rajan chairs review meeting related to encroachment evictions.]

Indian Opinion Analysis

The decision to convert encroached parts of Arunachala Hills into Reserve Forest holds meaningful environmental and safety implications for India. Landslips due to heavy rains have highlighted risks associated with unregulated human settlements on ecologically sensitive terrain like hillsides. Preserving such areas as forest zones aligns with broader goals of environmental conservation while reducing future disaster vulnerabilities.

However, this situation underscores two interconnected issues-urban expansion without proper zoning laws leading to encroachments and inefficiencies in maintaining clear land records under governmental agencies like Revenue Departments. Disputed and unidentified land ownership further complicates rapid enforcement measures.

Though necessary from both environmental preservation and disaster risk mitigation perspectives, systemic improvements-including stricter zoning policies and more transparent record management procedures-are required across similar regions nationwide to prevent recurrences elsewhere.

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