Jakkammal Karadu in Theni district.
At the gram sabha meetings held across Melur taluk in Madurai district as part of the 80th Independence Day celebrations, one of the common resolutions passed was with regard to protection of the environment and heritage sites.
Environmental activists pointed out that there were several sites of archaeological and biodiversity significance across Madurai and Theni districts. These sites should be declared as biodiversity heritage sites similar to that of Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram in Madurai district and Kasampatty in Dindigul district, they said.
The Tamil Nadu government in 2022 issued a notification declaring Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages in Madurai district as a biodiversity heritage site in the State. The site comprising 139.63 hectares in Arittapatti village (Melur block) and 53.8 hectares in Meenakshipuram village (Madurai East taluk) known as Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage site was the first biodiversity heritage site in Tamil Nadu.
In 2025, the government notified Kasampatty (Veera Kovil) sacred grove as a Biodiversity Heritage Site. Located near Alagarmalai Reserve Forest in Dindigul district, Kasampatty, was the second biodiversity heritage site in Tamil Nadu.
Activist Tamil Dasan said there were at least 11 sites of archaeological and biodiversity significance in Madurai district which included Kottaimalai, Aruvimalai, Somagiri, Kallangadu and Vellimalai in Melur. Mondrumalai, Poigaimalai, Onankaradu and Malai Kovil kadu in Usilampatti and Samanatham and Idayapatti. A butterfly park could also be developed along the Sathiyar dam range, he said.
In Theni district, Jakkammal Karadu, Meenakshipuram Tank and Thamaraikulam were places of archaeological and biodiversity significance, he pointed out.
Activist and a resident of Melur K. Selvaraj said similar to the Slender Loris sanctuary in Kadavur-Ayyalur region which was spread across Dindigul and Karur districts, another Slender Loris sanctuary should be established in Melur-Singampuneri region across Madurai and Sivaganga districts, he said, adding that efforts should be taken towards their conservation.
Another demand of the people of Melur was to declare Kallangadu region as a biodiversity heritage site. He said there were ancient temples and sacred grove, and a wide variety of plants including Usilai, Kurutham, Vidathalai, Kala, Kaarai, Aathi, Aazham, Arasam, Thailam, Kurinji, Thirugukalli, Sengathari, Manchanathi and Sirupoonaikali.
The region was also a habitat for deer, slender loris, monitor lizard, peafowl, mongoose, jungle cat, and various bird species, he said.
Mr. Selvaraj said several petitions had been submitted to the authorities to declare Kallangadu as a biodiversity heritage spot. However, steps were being taken to establish SIPCOT in the region without even considering that the place was a site of archaeological and biodiversity significance, he said.
He expressed hope that the authorities would understand the significance of the place and protect the flora and fauna of the region.
There has been a call to declare Samanatham tank in Madurai as a bird sanctuary.
In the suo motu proceedings initiated by Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, it said Samanatham tank located in Tirupparankundram block was a habitat to more than 150 species of birds which included nearly eight threatened species such as Oriental Darter, Painted Stork, Black headed Ibis, Spot billed Pelican, Black tailed Godwit, Bar tailed Godwit, River Tern and Osprey.
Disposing of the suo motu proceedings initiated to declare Samanatham tank as a bird sanctuary, the court said such decisions have to be taken by the government on the recommendation of the competent authorities and after obtaining expert reports from the authorities concerned.
Similarly in Theni district, environmental activists have urged the State government to declare Meenakshipuram tank at Ammapatti panchayat in Bodinayakanur taluk in Theni district either a bird sanctuary or a community reserve.
Mr. Tamil Dasan said during a recent survey at the tank, a total of 56 species of birds were documented which included Little Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Common Sandpiper, Oriental Darter, Asian Openbill, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Black-winged Stilt, Black-headed Ibis, Red-naped Ibis, Spot-billed Pelican, Spot-billed Duck, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Grebe, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, White-breasted Waterhen, Common Kingfisher, and White-throated Kingfisher, among others. Systematic surveys conducted across different seasons could potentially record more than 150 bird species there, he said.
Many activists have appealed the government to declare Jakkammal Karadu in Andipatti in Theni district as an archaeological protected monument and Biodiversity Heritage Site.
Jakkammal Karadu is a site of archaeological and biodiversity significance. Neolithic stone tools and Megalithic potsherds were discovered in the vicinity of the hill. Megalithic period white-pigmented cave paintings on the northern side of the hill, 9th century sculpture of a Tirthankara on the western side of the hill and 400-year-old hero stone adjacent to the hill were found, they said.
Published – August 16, 2026 09:08 pm IST
