Declaration of Vellarikadu Forest Block in Sankarapuram (Previously Kallakurichi) Taluk in Villupuram (Previously South Arcot) District as Reserved Forest under the Tamil Nadu Forest Act

What the declaration does

The Tamil Nadu Environment and Forests Department published Notification No. II(2)/EF/59/2019 under G.O. Ms. No. 106, Environment and Forests (FR.14), dated 31 July 2018. Acting under the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882, the Governor of Tamil Nadu declares the area described in the schedule as Vellarikadu Forest Block and gives it reserved forest status from 7 August 2019.

Land covered

The reserved forest is in Sankarapuram Taluk, previously Kallakurichi Taluk, in Villupuram District, previously South Arcot District. The scheduled block has a total extent of 929.44.5 hectares:

• Village No. 145, Vellarikadu, previously Village No. 299, covers 584.12.0 hectares.
• Village No. 155, Mottaiyanur, previously Village No. 301, covers 345.32.5 hectares.
• The schedule identifies the included land through individual survey numbers and extents.
• The boundaries are described by reference to survey numbers in Vellarikadu, Mottaiyanur, Erukkampattu, Kallipattu and Karuvelambadi villages.

Enclosures within the forest block

The Environment and Forests Department's schedule identifies certain lands situated within Vellarikadu Forest Block that are retained as enclosures. It also separately lists lands admitted by the Forest Settlement Officer following claims and retained as enclosures within the block.

The enclosure lists use survey numbers, subdivision numbers and individual extents. A survey number appearing within the geographical boundary should therefore be checked against both the reserved forest survey list and the enclosure lists.

Who should check the schedule

The declaration is relevant to buyers, owners and professionals dealing with land in Village No. 145, Vellarikadu, or Village No. 155, Mottaiyanur. Key checks include:

• Confirm the village number, survey number and subdivision number of the property.
• Compare the property details with the scheduled reserved forest lands.
• Check whether the land is listed as an enclosure or as land admitted by the Forest Settlement Officer following a claim.
• Use the boundary description where survey records place land near the edge of Vellarikadu Forest Block.

The notification provides the declaration, survey details, boundaries and enclosure information. It does not state a transaction fee, compensation amount or separate procedure for buying or transferring land.