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Nilgiris Ecology Under Threat: Urgent Plea for Sustainable Plan
14 Jul
Summary
- Nilgiris Documentation Centre seeks NGT-monitored sustainable mountain plan.
- Development projects face calls for moratorium pending assessment.
- Allegations of master plan misuse and flouting of building rules.
The Nilgiris Documentation Centre (NDC) has formally requested the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to establish a sustainable mountain development plan for the Nilgiris region. The NDC advocates for an interdisciplinary panel to enact immediate measures to halt ongoing ecological damage and implement long-term strategies for sustainable development.
As of 2026-07-14T18:35:39+00:00, the NDC is calling for a suspension of major development projects. This is pending the completion of a scientific assessment of the Nilgiris' ecological status, which they believe has been compromised by unchecked development and greed. Concerns are particularly high regarding the alarming increase in landslip-prone areas.
Furthermore, the NDC has raised serious allegations about the mismanagement and exploitation of the district's Master Plan, which has reportedly not been reviewed in 30 years. They claim that building permissions and regulations are frequently disregarded, with the Hill Area Conservation Authority (HACA) allegedly facilitating the sanctioning of large commercial buildings. A recent lifting of the ban on cutting rosewood trees has also been noted.
The article also points to a disconnect in ongoing environmental initiatives, citing the proposed development of a 50-acre race course in Ooty into an entertainment park as a prime example. This project is seen as a threat to the district's last significant open space, despite a district-wide decarbonisation project being in effect.
