On 24 June 2026 the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court posted a PIL seeking a scientific census around Berijam Lake, Kodaikanal, and its notification as a Tiger Reserve under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; the court directed the State to file a report.
Background and Recent Developments
- Location: Berijam Lake lies within Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary, Dindigul district; it is an ecologically sensitive freshwater reservoir.
- Confirmed sightings: Video evidence dated 17 May 2026 showed three tigers near Berijam Lake.
- Administrative action: Tamil Nadu Forest Department imposed temporary restrictions on tourist access and vehicular movement from 18 May 2026.
- PIL demands: A scientific census to assess ecological viability and enforcement of permanent restrictions on commercial tourism and vehicular movement.
Legal and Administrative Provisions
- Section 38V (WPA, 1972): Empowers State Government to notify an area as a Tiger Reserve.
- NTCA (statutory authority): Constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act to provide statutory oversight for tiger conservation and Tiger Reserve governance.
- Post-notification regime: Notification typically invokes core–buffer zoning and Project Tiger management norms with regulated land use and tourism controls.
AITE 2026 & Monitoring
- AITE 2026: All India Tiger Estimation began field surveys in Jan 2026 (phase 1).
- AI-enabled monitoring: Phase 3 (tentatively Oct 2026) plans AI-assisted camera trapping for wildlife movement and occupancy assessment.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- WPA, 1972: Legal framework for protected areas, schedules for species protection and provisions for reserve notifications.
- Project Tiger: Centrally sponsored programme guiding management of notified Tiger Reserves, core–buffer concept and funding mechanisms.
- Survey agencies: AITE coordinated by NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India using camera traps, sign surveys and AI analytics.