Conservationists flay plans to open up Nilgiris’s eco-sensitive Pakkasuran Malai to tourism

: Conservationists shocked by TTDC plan to open eco-sensitive Bakkasuran Malai near Coonoor to tourism. Local biologists fear it will impact rare, endemic species. Conservationists call for responsible tourism, with no roads or buildings in the area. DFO says no formal proposal yet, but staff accompanied tourism minister for inspection.

Conservationists are shocked over reports that the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Limited (TTDC) plans to open up the eco-sensitive area surrounding Pakkasuran Malai, a hill near Coonoor, to tourism. They say tourism to the region could severely impact the rare, endemic biodiversity that is found in the area.

According to officials, TTDC plans to open up to toursim, Droog Fort, a historic fort on the peak of Pakkasuran Malai spread around 40 cents of land, with plans to construct a viewpoint, a toilet and food court facilities. The Fort and the hill are popular hiking spots.

However, local conservationists and wildlife biologists working in the region have strongly criticised the proposed move. A. Abinesh, a wildlife biologist who has visited the area for over a decade, said the Pakkasuran Malai was one of the few places in the Nilgiris that was home to the rare species of snake known as the Günther’s burrowing snake (Plecturus guentheri), while also being an important nesting site for the Shaheen falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinator).

The area, which is primarily composed of rocks and grasslands is also home to the rare Valeriana leschenaultii, an endemic species of plant that is critically endangered and is threatened by habitat loss due to road construction and expansion of agriculture and human settlements, said Mr. Abinesh.

Mr. Abinesh also said that micro-endemic bush frogs such as the Coonoor bush frog (Raorchestes coonoorensis), as well as larger mammals like the rare Nilgiri martens, mouse deer, Indian gaurs, barking deer, leopards, sloth bears, Indian giant flying squirrels, Indian giant squirrels, brown palm civets, Indian crested porcupines, as well as a number of endemic orchids and grasses are found in the area.

The Droog Fort itself has significant historical, cultural and religious significance and qualifies as a sacred grove, said Janardhan Nanjundan, member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas. Mr. Janardhan said that the Fort and the surrounding Pakkasuran Malai need to be protected, and that it was among 15 such areas across the district that should be included in the IUCN’s green list of protected and conserved areas.