If one were to track back to when it all began, the date would probably be February 27, 2014, when the Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to frame a comprehensive policy for annihilating exotic and invasive species, such as eucalyptus and wattle, from the Western Ghats and instead restore the shola forests (a name derived from the Tamil word Solai and referring to tropical montane forests) to protect the indigenous species from extinction.
Eight years have passed since Justices R. Sudhakar (since retired) and V.M. Velumani passed the orders and Justices M.M. Sundresh (now a Supreme Court judge) and N. Sathish Kumar followed it up. Yet, the Forest Department has not begun even a pilot project so far.
Losing patience, a Division Bench of Justices V. Bharathidasan and N. Satish Kumar has begun cracking the whip. Understanding the seriousness with which the court is viewing the issue, Additional Advocate-General J. Ravindran has assured it of the government’s commitment and promised to show progress by March 25.
