The Southern Bench of NGT observed that blackbucks are “very shy and timid animals” that could be affected by human disturbance. | Photo credit: N. Rajesh
The South Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Tamil Nadu State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to reconsider its rejection of a proposed rough stone and gravel quarry near Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary in Thoothukudi district.
The authority ordered it to reconsider the request with appropriate safeguards, noting that blackbucks are “very shy and timid animals” that could be affected by human disturbance.
In an appeal filed by Raja Jebadoss, a Bench comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Expert Member Prashant Gargava set aside the SEIAA’s April 11, 2023 order rejecting the proposal and referred the matter to the authority for fresh consideration within six weeks after allowing a personal hearing to the project proponent.
The proposed quarry covers 6.02.5 hectares at Padmanabamangalam village in Srivaikundam taluk. According to official records, the site is about 1.92 km from the Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary and about 1.44 km outside its ecologically sensitive zone.
However, the State Expert Assessment Commission (SEAC) recommended rejecting the proposal, saying that blacks often moved outside the refuge to graze and could risk being trapped in the mining area, even if fencing was installed. The SEIAA accepted this recommendation and rejected the application for environmental approval in April 2023.
The appellant challenged the decision before the NGT, contending that the quarry site was outside the ecologically sensitive zone and beyond the protected distance of one kilometer from nature reserves prescribed by the Supreme Court. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Conservator of Wildlife also said that prior approval of the National Wildlife Board is not required as the site falls outside the notified ecologically sensitive zone.
However, the Bench noted that the proposal was rejected only on the basis of apprehension of possible movement of blackbucks outside the sanctuary. “Even according to the research papers referred to by SEIAA – Tamil Nadu, blacks are very timid and timid animals. Any kind of anthropogenic disturbance will have an adverse effect,” he noted.
If that were the case, the authority should consider providing appropriate protection to the animals while permitting the project by imposing appropriate conditions instead of rejecting the proposal outright, he added.
Since the mitigation measures were not reviewed, the Bench set aside SEIAA’s rejection and directed the authority to reconsider the petition and issue fresh orders.
Published – 06 March 2026 20:10 IST
