Tue Apr 15 14:17:52 UTC 2025: ## Hundreds of Trees Illegally Felled in Nilgiris, Exposing Monitoring Gaps

**UDHAGAMANDALAM, April 15, 2025** – The illegal felling of over 250 trees in Manickal village, Nilgiris district, has highlighted critical flaws in the monitoring of tree-cutting permissions in the region. While the Sholur town panchayat received permission to remove 40 “dangerous” eucalyptus trees near a waste reclamation facility, a contractor allegedly exploited the permit to fell far more, even trespassing into the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) buffer zone.

The incident has sparked outrage among conservationists, who claim the current system lacks effective oversight. The panchayat’s Executive Officer, M.A. Harshad, stated they only requested permission for 7-8 trees, but a contractor, armed with the order for 40, exceeded the limit significantly. Two employees of the contractor were arrested by the Forest Department for felling trees within the MTR buffer zone.

A top Forest Department official explained that while the department monitors tree felling on private land, responsibility for revenue land falls to the Revenue Department. Conservationists argue this division creates an opaque system, vulnerable to abuse. They advocate for an independent third party to verify compliance with granted permissions, expressing concerns about potential illegal logging of native Shola trees.

While the Revenue Divisional Officer in Udhagamandalam claimed unawareness of any violations, the panchayat’s Executive Officer confirmed the illegal felling and instructed the contractor to adhere to the original permit. The MTR’s Deputy Director, P. Arunkumar, confirmed that GPS data revealed tree felling within the reserve’s jurisdiction, leading to the arrests. The incident underscores the urgent need for improved monitoring mechanisms to prevent further environmental damage.

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