The Hindu : Avoid trekking up Tiruvannamalai hills: Collector

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 29, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Avoid trekking up Tiruvannamalai hills: Collector

By Our Staff Reporter

VELLORE DEC. 28. The Tiruvannamalai Collector, Dheeraj Kumar, has appealed to the public not to trek the Annamalai hills at Tiruvannamalai from January to June in order to protect the thick growth of `manjam pul' (yellow grass) and other plants raised under the greening project taken up by the Tiruvannamalai Greening Society.

Mr. Kumar, who is also the president of the society, said it was necessary to prevent fires as part of a greening project. A squad caught three persons who set fire to a plantation near Kandasramam on the hills. Forest personnel also put out fires caused to the plantations by some people during the Karthigai Deepam festival on December 7.

The Collector said one lakh saplings had been planted on 125 hectares on the hills, and the society and the Forest Department personnel were protecting them. It had become necessary to prohibit people from trekking the hills to prevent fires and protect the growth of the saplings and the yellow grass.

Mr. Kumar said if climbing the hills was inevitable, the public could do so after getting permission from the Forest department. They were requested not to carry with them any flammable material. The Forest department could be informed on phone (254018) when the public noticed smoke or fire on the hills.

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