Declaration of Reserved Forest areas in Tirunelveli District as Nellai Wild Life Sanctuary under the Wild Life (Protection) Act
The Government of Tamil Nadu, in Environment and Forests Department G.O. Ms. No. 12, dated 4th February 2015, declared specified reserved forest areas in Tirunelveli District as the Nellai Wild Life Sanctuary under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The notification says the area has ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural and zoological significance, and it excludes a specified part of Courtallam Reserved Forest for eco tourism intervention. The sanctuary takes effect from 4th February 2015.
What this gazette notification does
The Government of Tamil Nadu, through Environment and Forests Department G.O. Ms. No. 12, dated 4th February 2015, declared a group of reserved forest areas in Tirunelveli District as the Nellai Wild Life Sanctuary under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The notification states that the area is important for protecting, propagating and developing wild life and its environment.
The declaration is effective from 4th February 2015. The notification also says that an area within Courtallam Reserved Forest, listed separately for eco tourism intervention, is excluded from the sanctuary area.
Where the sanctuary is
The schedule in the gazette identifies:
- District, Tirunelveli
- Taluks, Sivagiri, Tenkasi and Shencottai
- Forest division, Tirunelveli Division
- Name of sanctuary, Nellai Wild Life Sanctuary
Area covered
The gazette gives these figures:
- Total area of the reserved forests in Annexure I, 36,120.91 hectares
- Area excluded within Courtallam Reserved Forest for eco tourism intervention in Annexure II, 447.58 hectares
- Total area of the sanctuary, 35,673.33 hectares
Forest lands included
The notification lists the reserved forests that make up the sanctuary area. The visible list includes forests such as:
- Sivagiri Reserved Forest
- Vasudevanallur Reserved Forest, including upper slope, lower slope and additions
- Konamparambu
- Thirumalainaicken Puthukudi Reserved Forest and Chokkampatti Reserved Forest
- Krishnapuram Reserved Forest
- Vairavankulam Reserved Forest
- Kadayanallur Reserved Forest
- Chinnakadu Reserved Forest
- Vellakkal theri Reserved Forest
- Vadakarai Kilpidagai Reserved Forest
- Puliarai Reserved Forest
- Courtallam Reserved Forest, with several extensions and estates listed
Why it may matter to land owners and buyers
This notification matters mainly if land, access or activity is connected to the listed reserved forest areas in Tirunelveli District. It formally gives sanctuary status to the notified forest area, except for the excluded eco tourism portion in Courtallam Reserved Forest.
The gazette also contains a long boundary description, using reserved forest boundaries, rivers, inter state forest boundaries and the Kerala State boundary to describe the sanctuary limits. If a property claim or project depends on whether land falls inside or outside these forest limits, the schedule and boundary description are the key parts to check.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
What exactly was declared by this notification?
Specified reserved forest areas in Tirunelveli District were declared as the Nellai Wild Life Sanctuary. The declaration was made by the Government of Tamil Nadu in Environment and Forests Department G.O. Ms. No. 12, dated 4th February 2015.
From when does the Nellai Wild Life Sanctuary take effect?
The notification says the sanctuary takes effect on and from 4th February 2015.
Which taluks are named in the sanctuary schedule?
The schedule names Sivagiri, Tenkasi and Shencottai taluks.
Was any area left out of the sanctuary?
Yes. The notification excludes 447.58 hectares within Courtallam Reserved Forest for eco tourism intervention, as specified in Annexure II.
