CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday announced that the State government would constitute the Tamil Nadu Authority for Preservation of Eco-sensitive and Heritage Areas that will have powers to protect the forests and areas surrounding falls and hills. A legislation will be enacted for this purpose in the ensuing session of the State Assembly.
The Chief Minister also announced a slew of measures for tourists visiting Courtallam Falls to make their visit a comfortable one and to keep the places surrounding the falls clean and tidy.
Decisions to these effects were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister at the Secretariat.
Various other measures to protect the eco-sensitive and heritage areas were also discussed at the meeting.
In a statement here, the Chief Minister said steps would be taken to ensure the cleanliness of Courtallam Falls and the safety of the tourists.
Installing CCTV cameras at bus stands near the falls and parking areas, fixing additional lamps, initiating measures to ease the traffic congestion, operating small buses between the Main Falls and Old Courtallam Falls, Setting up of a multi-storey parking lots, construction of more toilets and changing rooms for women are some of the additional measures being undertaken.
Old guest houses that are owned by the State government in Courtallam would be demolished and new multi-storey buildings would be constructed, Jayalalithaa said, adding, that the buildings would have all facilities for tourists.
Earlier this week, a division bench of the High Court of Madras had given a set of directions in this regard following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).