SANCTUARY EXPANSION WITHHELD
The Madras high court has issued an order to stay the proposed state government's plan to expand the area of Madumalai Sanctuary in Nilgiri district. A government order dated July 23 brought Segur and Singara ranges of the Nilgiri division under the control of the wildlife warden of the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary on the ground that the area was extremely rich in wildlife and should be merged with the sanctuary. P T Verghese, councillor of Masinagudi panchayat, filed a writ petition seeking a slay on the operations. In response, justice V S Sirpurkar ordered status quo. According to the petitioner, the lands to be merged were agricultural lands and were providing livelihood to people.