Dindigul Circle

DINDIGUL CIRCLE

ABOUT DINDIGUL CIRCLE

 Dindigul Circle is situated at Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu. Dindigul Circle has been formed on 01.5.1999 as per G.O No. 108 Environment & Forest Department Dated 29.4.1999 in order to protect and develop the Forests in Dindigul and Karur Districts.

 Social Forestry Circle, Trichy has been re-deployed to Dindigul and Dindigul Circle has been formed on 01.5.1999 as per G.O No. 108 Environment & Forest Department Dated 29.4.1999.

 In Dindigul District, out of total geographical extent of 626,664 Ha. Forest cover is only 151,121.18 Ha. which is 24.11%. In Karur District, out of total geographical extent of 285,600 Ha. Forest cover is only 6,734.95 Ha. which is 2.35%.

 The forest areas in Dindigul Circle is the source of Shanmuganathi, Palaru, Porunthalaru, Nanganjiaru, Kodaganaru and Manjalaru Rivers and Varadamanathi, Kuthiraiaru, Parappalaru, Palaru, Porunthalaru, Nanganjiaru, Kodaganaru and Manjalaru Dams.

 Kodaikanal Forest Division is situated in Palani Hills which is a part of Western ghats. The Palani Hills is naturally divided in to Upper Palani Hills and Lower Palani Hills.

 Major portions of Kodaikanal Forest Division are sloppy and undulating terrains. Upper Palani Hills is having various types of lands such as Peaks of height ranging from 2000m to 2654m, grass lands, Plains, Sholas, Wet lands and water bodies.

 Total extent of Shola forests is 2337 Ha. and total extent of Grass land is 16627 Ha.

 Teak, Kumil, Rose wood, Sandanavembu, Pala and Silavagai are some important timber species in the Forests. Bison, elephant, Kadaman, spotted deer, Lepord, Sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr, Giant squirrel, Common Macaque and Wild pig are some important wildlife in the forests of Dindigul Circle. Location:

 The jurisdiction of Dindigul Circle is the revenue jurisdiction of both Dindigul and Karur Districts. Dindigul Circle is situated in between N 10o 5’ to 11o 10’ and E 077o 15’ to 078o 20’. Dindigul Circle is surrounded by Namakkal District at North, Trichy District at East, Madurai and Theni District at South and Coimbatore District and Kerala State at West.

Reserved Forests and Reserved Land details in Dindigul Circle:

Sl. No. Status of land Nos. Extent (Ha.) 1 Reserved Forests 124 149,089.865 2 Reserved Lands 15 10,708.03 Total 139 159,797.895

Forest Division wise Reserved Forests and Reserved Land details (as on 01.01.2016):

Sl. Reserved Forests Reserved Lands Total Extent Name of Division No. No. Extent (Ha.) No. Extent (Ha.) (Ha.) 1 Dindigul 71 80173.485 10 6666.815 86840.30 2 Kodaikanal 31 62212.97 3 4009.675 66222.645 3 Karur 22 6703.41 2 31.54 6734.95 Total 124 149,089.865 15 10,708.03 159,797.895

Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary:

An extent of 608.95 sq.km forest areas in Dindigul and Theni District has been declared as “Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary” vide G.O Ms. No.143 e & F (FR.5) Department dated 20.9.2013.

4. Forest Divisions in Dindigul Circle:

There are 3 Territorial Divisions and one Functional Division are under the control of Dindigul Circle. The names of the Forest Divisions are furnished below:

a) Territorial Divisions: 1.Dindigul Division, Dindigul. 2.Kodaikanal Division, Kodaikanal. 3.Crash Plantation Project Division, Karur.

b) Functional Division: 1. Sirumalai Inter Face Forestry Division, Dindigul.

ADMINISTRATION AIMS:

A) Forest Protection:

 There are many endangered species of Flora and Fauna and Watershed areas available in Dindigul Circle. Grass lands are available in Dindigul and Kodaikanal Divisions and these lands are the main fodder source for the Herbivores animals. Hence more importance is being given in protection of Reserved Forests and Reserved Lands in this Circle.  Forest Fire is the main threat to the Forests during summer season. All the forest fires are manmade fires. These fire incidences are being made by the local villagers and Tourists. Hence effective preventive measures are being taken to protect the Forests and Wildlife from the forest fires.

B) Hill Areas Protection:

The Hill Villages in Dindigul, Kodaikanal and Oddanchatram Taluks of Dindigul District have been declared as “Hilly areas”. In Hilly areas, Coffee, Tea, Agricultural crops, Fire wood and Pulpwood plantations are being cultivated in private lands. Tree felling and other activities in these hilly areas are being controlled by the Orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, Tamil Nadu Hill Areas (Preservation of Trees) Act 1955 and Tamil Nadu Forest Act 1882.

C) Development of Degraded Forests:

Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project (TAP) has been implemented in Dindigul Circle in 216 Villages from 1997-98 to 2009-10 by involving the local people on Joint forest Management basis so as to improve the degraded forests. The Forest Division wise details of villages implemented under TAP is furnished below:

Sl. No. Name of Division No. of TAP villages 1 Dindigul 44 2 Kodaikanal 13 3 Sirumalai IFF 129 4 Karur CPP 30 Total 216

In addition, National Afforestation Programme (NAP) is being implemented in 58 villages from 2002-03 to 2015-16 by involving the local people on Joint forest Management basis so as to improve the degraded forests. The Forest Division wise details of villages implemented under NAP is furnished below:

Sl. No. Name of Division No. of TAP villages 1 Dindigul 44 2 Kodaikanal 13 Total 216 D) Forest Extension:

As per Indian Forest Policy, one third of the lands have to be notified as “Forests”. Hence action is being taken to notify the Hills and Hill poramboke lands under the control of Revenue Department as “Forest lands” under the Sections of Tamil Nadu Forest Act 1882 with the assistance of District Administration.

FOREST PROTECTION AND FIRE PROTECTION WORKS:

Forest boundary has to be protected by constructing RF boundary Cairns at respective places. The Cairns constructed long back are in damaged condition and these cairns have to be replaced. Further, Cairns are being constructed on priority basis in order to protect the forests from new encroachments.

Special efforts are being taken to protect the forests from forest fire. A team of youth in each forest fringe village has been formed and regular perambulation is being done as per the guidance of the field staff to protect the forests.

In order to protect the forests from forest fire, the following fire preventive works are being carried out:

1. Fie tracing works done along the boundary of Forests and along the admitted right of ways. 2. Training with field demonstration was given to the field staff and fire preventive apparatus have also been supplied to the field team. 3. Awareness on Forest fire is being created to the Public through Hand bills, Pamphlets and meetings.

WILDLIFE PROTECTION:

Wildlife protection works have been expedited in Dindigul Circle. Based on the damages caused by the wildlife such as Elephant, Bison and Wild Pig in Palani, Oddanchatram, Kannivadi and Kodaikanal areas in previous years, special projects have been prepared to solve the Human-animal conflict problems.

Awareness on Forests and Wildlife protection is being created among the Public through celebration of Wildlife week and World Forest Day and also by conducting Drawing and other competitions at School level.

Details of compensation paid for the Wildlife damages:

For the damages caused by the wildlife, compensation is being settled then and there. The details of compensation paid during 2015-16 and 2016-17 (up to 28.02.2017) are furnished below:

2015-16 2016-17 Sl. Nature of Compensation Compensation No. of No. of No. damage amount paid amount paid incidence incidence (Rs.in lakh) (Rs.in lakh) 1 Human death 6 18.000 2 3.000 2 Human injury 16 3.035 11 0.745 3 Crop damage 105 15.054 91 8.015 4 Cattle damage 8 0.740 13 1.080 5 Property damage 3 0.070 8 0.300 Total 138 36.899 125 13.140 Forest Check posts:

To strengthen the forest protection and to control the forest offences, Forest Check Posts have been constructed in vulnerable places. The details of Forest Check Posts are furnished below:

Sl. Name of Name of Range Location of Check Post No. Division 1 Dindigul Sirumalai Sirumalai 2 Dindigul Oddanchatram Oddanchatram 3 Dindigul Kannivadi Dharmathupatty 4 Dindigul Batlagundu Chitarevu 5 Kodaikanal Palani Thekkanthottam, Palani 6 Kodaikanal Devadanapatty Kamakkapatty 7 Kodaikanal Kodaikanal Perumalmalai Tourist Places:

 Pilgrim places such as Palani Temple, Alagarkovil Temple and Kodaikanal Kurunji Andavar Temple are situated within the jurisdiction of Dindigul Circle.  Tourist places such as Mannavanur, Berijam, Pine Forests, Moir Point, Silent Valley, Caps Valley, Pillar rock and Guna gave are situated in Upper Palani Hills of Kodaikanal Division.  Tourist place of Kumbakarai falls near Periakulam is also situated in Devadanapatty Forest Range of Kodaikanal Division.  Water in Berijam lake is being used as drinking water for Periakulam Town in Theni District.  “Mathikettan Shola” situated in Berijam Range of Kodaikanal Division is having large number of Herbs.  Rare species of various Herbs are available in plenty in Alagahills RF of Dindigul Division.  Herbal Farms have been formed in Alagarhill RF of Dindigul Division and Mathikettan Shola of Kodaikanal Division and the same are being protected well.