Following the closure of 42 illegal resorts operating around the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) on January 13, 2026, in compliance with an order of the Madras High Court, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department has identified 22 more resorts functioning without mandatory permission from the Hill Area Conservation Authority (HACA) in the Thalavadi Hills. Notices were served on these operators, and the resorts are set to be sealed on February 5.
The action followed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by environmental activist R. Karpagam of Coimbatore. On January 5, 2026, a Division Bench of the Madras High Court comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan directed Erode District Collector S. Kandasamy to initiate action against illegal resorts in the region. Based on the direction, 42 resorts were sealed.
On Monday (February 2, 2026), Assistant Director of Panchayats (Village) S. Umashankar convened a meeting with officials at the Block Development Office in Thalavadi. An official said that the 22 resorts had obtained approvals from local bodies and the Revenue Department but failed to secure clearance from the HACA, which is processed through the Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP).
Form I and Form II notices—seeking documents related to unauthorised land or building development and providing a minimum seven-day response period—were issued to the owners and occupants. “They were given time until February 4 (Wednesday) to submit the required documents, failing which the resorts will be closed on February 5 (Thursday),” the official said.
Notices were also served on smaller resorts operating in the hill area, directing them to respond within seven days, the official added.
Published – February 03, 2026 06:42 pm IST
