Protests against construction in Longwood Shola reserve forest intensify in the Nilgiris

Concrete structures, including cement beds to grow native tree saplings and a building within the ecologically-sensitive Longwood Shola reserve forest in Kotagiri have been strongly opposed by conservationists and local residents of Kotagiri in the Nilgiris district. Following the announcement, the forest department began the construction of plant beds made out of concrete as well as what the forest department terms “a non-permanent structure.” Activists also allege that the department cut down 20 native Shola trees using an earth mover, who have come together to form the Longwood Shola Conservation Consortium. On Saturday, November 25, 2023 the District Forest Officer, S. Gowtham, released a statement stating, “.it has come to our knowledge that a message is being spread in social media that Government and Forest department are planning to construct and destroy longwood shola and thereby threaten the water safety of the people of Kotagiri. The project was carefully planned in the existing vacant site in the Longwood shola, however there was no construction of any kind was initiated in this regard in Longwood as the project is still in the formulation stage.” “The news appeared in social media, as if the Government is intending to take up destructive constructions in shola forest is baseless and is totally against the purpose of the project.” “A Shola conservation centre is need of the hour and it will be undertaken in Nilgiris and the place for the centre will be explored by accommodating the views of the stakeholders,” he added.