Representational image. File
| Photo Credit: L. Balachandar
The Madras High Court has called for an explanation from the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) following a complaint regarding the use of high-power diesel engine boats to ferry tourists in lakes situated in core forest areas of the State.
A special Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, dealing with forest related cases, impleaded the TTDC suo motu as a respondent to a pending case and directed the corporation to respond to the charge by November 21, 2025.
The orders were passed after amici curiae T. Mohan, Chevanan Mohan, Rahul Balaji and M. Santhanaraman brought it to the notice of the court that the use of high-speed diesel boats in core forest areas leads to air, noise as well as water pollution.
They said, the loud noise generated by the diesel engines and the smoke emitted by them affect the wildlife and other species in the forests. They said, the acquatic life too gets affected due to the vibration caused by the engines and the mixing of diesel with the water.
“In such view of the matter, we feel that TTDC is a necessary party to these proceedings and as such is suo motu impleaded as the 74th respondent to this case… Let notice be served to the newly impleaded 74th respondent, through court, as well as privately, returnable by November 21,” the judges ordered.
Trek Tamil Nadu
The Division Bench also decided to take a call on February 6, 2026 the further orders that need to be passed on the issue of regulating trekking activity inside the forests to prevent disturbance to the movement of elephants and other animals and also to their breeding pattern.
The Bench took note that the Tamil Nadu Forest and Wildlife Areas (Regulation of Trekking) Rules, 2018 had been promulgated for streamlining the procedure undertaken for trekking activities in forest and wildlife areas of the State and for curbing unauthorised trekking.
In 2024, the forest department had approved 124 trek routes across the State though only 32 of those routes were being operated through the Tamil Nadu Wilderness Experiences Corporation. In September 2025, the High Court had directed the department to reconsider three of the 32 routes.
After reconsideration, the forest department decided to suspend the Baraliyar trek route in Coimbatore district to ensure safety of visitors and to prevent disturbance to natural movement of elephants. It was also decided to find an alternative trekking route in consultation with the local communities.
Further, the forest department decided to review all approved trek routes on a quarterly basis. Nevertheless, activist S. Muralidharan expressed several concerns related to trekking in forest areas and hence, the judges decided to take a call on the issue after hearing the amici curiae in detail.
Published – November 18, 2025 06:37 pm IST
