Part of the gorge overlooking the place of Sillahalla near Bellathy Combai Village in Kundha. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Local residents and activists argued that the site for the Sillahalla project was recovered by the use of explosives, although public consultations have not been completed.
Local Blowers, which are part of the SILIHALLA Protection Committee and other organizations that fight to prevent the project, recently visited the Bellathy Combai tribal village in Kundha, where the locals reported them in the last few months about “regular explosions along the project”.
ARUN BELLIE, activist and member coordinator of the Sillahalla Committee, said that the Hindu locations were feared growing activities along the Sillahalla River. “So far, there has been no clarity from the government, whether the project began to be carried out,” said Mr. Bellie. He said that the explosives are used along the gorge surrounding the river, even before any public consultation took place, much less consensus about the benefits of the project.
“What is concerned about us is how previous government projects have been implemented in Nilgiris, with a modest regard to the current rules. For example, the establishment of Adventure Park in Ooty Lake and Boat House rushed before permission was obtained for projects.
Local residents of Manjoor and the surrounding villages who were passing through ethnic and community lines began protest 30 March in Manjoor, who in their entirety against the project against the project. One of the main organizers of the protest, head of lawyer K. Vijayan, director of the chapter Tamil Nadu at the legal forum folk forum, said that it is ironic, that while plastic products were banned in Nilgirice, and serious restrictions were introduced to “protected and maintain the environment”.
“Instead of a project, less than five air kilometers from Mudumalai and Mukulei National Parks, it is located in an area that is known to be geologically unstable and susceptible to landslides and destroy the livelihoods of thousands of families,” he said.
Another conservationist from Nilgiris said the project threatened the natural hydrology of the Nilgiris district, which should ideally consist of only swamps and wetlands. “This unique hydrology took tens of thousands of years to develop, and is characterized by ensuring the absorption of large amounts of water during magic of abundant precipitation and ensuring the availability of water during drought magic.
When he was contacted, the Tangedco official said the project had to begin and added that only the stability tests were carried out to obtain approval for the project from a geological survey in India.
Published – April 1 2025 17:44 IS IS
