Remove solar fencing in Elephant Corridor

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the government to immediately remove all illegally-erected solar energised electrical fencing, including those of the proposed parties, in the elephant corridor in the Nilgiris district. A division bench comprising Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Justice N Kirubakaran gave the direction while passing interim orders on a writ petition from R Vishnu Ram Saravanavel of Anna Nagar West, on Friday.The bench noted that while passing final orders on a writ petition on April 7 last year, it had observed that each private holding was bound by solar electric fencing, virtually cutting across the elephant corridor and thus the people were developing the area for the pleasure of individuals at the cost of elephant and wildlife, thus recognising the threat being posed by such illegal erections by greedy people to wildlife and allowing the creation of elephant corridor by the government.SLPs were filed in the Supreme Court challenging the final order. But, the apex court, except for staying a portion relating to dispossession and demolition of the buildings for two months, had not intervened in the other directions given by the High Court towards creation of elephant corridor, the bench pointed out.However, so far, nothing fruitful seems to have been done by the government towards removing the illegally erected solar energised electrical fencing, which were restricting the free movement of the animals and virtually cutting across the elephant corridor, the bench said and gave the direction. The matter will be taken up after two weeks.