Tourists go, tea estate stays in tiger reserve

CHENNAI: While tiger reserves remain closed to tourists after a Supreme Court order, footfalls of 5,000-odd workers continue in the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger reserve (KMTR). The workers are employed at the 8,832-acre Manjolai Estate, belonging to the Nusli Wadia group and located inside the KMTR.

What’s more, while the state has started the acquisition process for 13 estates located within KMTR, sources indicated that the Manjolai Estate of the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation is likely to continue its lease until 2028 despite being located in the core of the reserve.

Under the Forest Conservation Act and the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, commercial activities are restricted within national parks, sanctuaries and reserve forests and banned in the core areas of tiger reserves.

“But given the circumstances, it would be legally difficult for the government to annul the lease,” said a forest official, adding, “So, they shall continue to stay until their lease period ends.”