The Madras High Court has ordered an inquiry by the Joint Director of Town and Country Planning in Coimbatore district into allegations that Isha Foundation had put up unauthorised constructions on 20.805 hectares of land at Ikkarai Poluvampatti village in Perur Taluk.
Chief Justice S.V. Gangapurwala and Justice P.D. Audikesavalu passed the orders while disposing of a 2017 public interest litigation petition filed by Velliangiri Hills Tribals Protection Society, represented by its president P. Muthammal, for restoring the wetlands by demolishing the unauthorised constructions.
Filing a status report in response to the PIL petition, the Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning told the court that out of 20.805 hectares, falling under 23 different survey numbers mentioned by the PIL petitioner, 15.53 hectares had been classified as ‘Nanjai’ (wetland) and 5.275 hectares had been classified as ‘Punjai’ (dryland).
