Residents of about 18 villages surrounding the Kallangadu region at Melur in Madurai district through a petition sought attention from the State government to protect the area which serves as a habitat for deer among other wildlife species.

K. Selvaraj, a social activist and a resident of Melur, said, the Kallangadu area, spanning hundreds of acres, was located in the Melur circle included three panchayats - Vanjinagaram, Boothamangalam, and Kodukkampatti.

Citing a recent study conducted on the culture and biodiversity of the region by a group of environmentalists under the banner Madurai Nature Cultural Foundation, he noted that the findings revealed the presence of ancient temple groves and a wide variety of plants, including Usilai, Kurutham, Vidathalai, Kala, Kaarai, Aathi, Aazham, Arasam, Thailam, Kurinji, Thirugukalli, Sengathari, Manchanathi and Sirupoonaikali.

The study also stated that the forests were also a habitat for rare species such as slender loris, fox, monitor lizard, wild cat, weasel, mongoose, squirrels, monkeys and pythons, Mr. Selvaraj added.

He said, "Recently, the villagers also spotted a deer in the forest area. This was further confirmed through the video shot by the locals showing the spotted deer leaping across a road in Kallangadu."

He recalled the plan which was made to establish a SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu) in this area.

"Efforts to build roads for the project were stopped by the repeated protests of people from villages, including Nagappan Sivalpatti, Moovan Sivalpatti, Kandukapatti, Thayampatti, Kambalipatti, Nellikundupatti, Othapatti, Muthampatti, Muravakkilavanpatti, Nalla Sukkampatti, Periya Sivalpatti and Sokkakkilavanpatti.

They still continue to hold protests pointing out the danger that the SIPCOT project poses to local agriculture, water sources, pastures, archaeological sites, religious monuments, and temple groves, which would also threaten the region's biodiversity," Mr. Selvaraj said.

As the presence of spotted deer among other wildlife species has added importance to the region's rich biodiversity, the villagers submitted a petition to the Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar, requesting him to take necessary steps to declare the Kallangadu areas as a protected biodiversity heritage site.

'Declare Kallangadu region as biodiversity heritage site'