HC vacates stay on G.O. issued for removal of invasive, exotic species in Kodaikanal

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday vacated a stay on the operation of a G.O. issued for removal of invasive and exotic species such as Wattle and Eucalyptus in Kodaikanal in Dindigul district. The petitioner complained the G.O. was misused and native Shola species were destroyed.

A Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman said the removal of invasive species in forest area was undertaken based on court directions. Several orders had been passed and the court was monitoring the issue. In view of the interim order the entire process had been stopped. The court vacated the stay and directed the authorities to strictly monitor the process and carry out proper enumeration in order to ensure that there was no illegal felling of trees.