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He stated that during grama sabha meetings held in 2025 and 2026 at the Pappankulam village panchayat, residents unanimously passed resolutions opposing the grant of quarrying lease. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Madurai | Silver Rate in Madurai | Bank Holidays in Madurai | Public Holidays in Madurai | Madurai AQI | Weather in Madurai | Petrol Price in Madurai | Diesel Price in Madurai | CNG Price in Madurai | LPG Price in Madurai Stay updated with the latest Madurai news. A division bench of Justice P Velmurugan and Justice K K Ramakrishnan sought the response while hearing a public interest litigation filed by S Nickson Gnanasingh. The petitioner stated that Mangulam and Pappankulam villages are situated in the vicinity of Koonthankulam bird sanctuary. The sanctuary is a wetland which has been notified as an internationally recognised Ramsar site for wetland and biodiversity conservation. The site hosts more than one lakh migratory birds every year between December and June/July, including painted storks, spot-billed pelicans, flamingos and bar-headed geese. He stated that the sanctuary and its avian visitors have, across generations, been protected by the local community as its own, with residents refraining even from bursting firecrackers during Diwali. This very unique, fragile and community-sustained ecosystem stands gravely and irreversibly imperilled by the quarrying and blasting operations being carried on in dangerous proximity to the site. Despite the same, the lease was granted. Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking a direction to restrain quarrying and blasting operations, cancel the lease and environmental clearance and order the permanent closure of all quarrying operations near the sanctuary. Download the TOI App.
Madurai: Madras high court on Monday sought a response from the state on a plea seeking a direction to the authorities to close stone quarry operations near Koonthankulam bird sanctuary in Tirunelveli district.