Environment News

Agasthyamalai Eviction Issue

August 13 , 2026 16 hrs 0 min 139 0

The Forest Department has issued eviction notices to thousands of households in Tamil Nadu’s Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR) over alleged forest-land encroachments.
The Supreme Court, based on the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) reports, ordered time-bound eviction of encroachments, rehabilitation where applicable and ecological restoration.
The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 recognises forest rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who occupied forest land before 13 December 2005, subject to the prescribed verification process.
The FRA requires claims to be verified through Gram Sabhas and does not require other traditional forest dwellers to prove three generations (75 years) of occupation before 2005.
The CEC reported around 4,595 encroachers occupying 5,071.2 hectares in the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve, based on 2020 records.
The ABR covers about 3,500 sq. km across Tamil Nadu and Kerala, including several tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.