CHENNAI: Seven months after the tragic Kurangani forest fire in Theni district of Tamil Nadu claimed the lives of 23 trekkers, the Environment and Forests Department has issued an order on the comprehensive Tamil Nadu Forests and Wildlife Areas (Regulation of Trekking) Rules, 2018.
Among several restrictions imposed, the new rules permit trekking only between 6 am and 5 pm and clamp a total ban for three months between February 15 and April 15. The Sunday Standard has the copy of the order, which will shortly be published in the Tamil Nadu government gazette.
The new rules prohibit children below 10 years and pregnant women from trekking on all routes “easy, moderate and tough”, which are carefully categorised, based on multiple factors such terrain, flora and fauna. Trekking should be undertaken only on a permitted linear route and trekker shall not perambulate in the forest. While trekking on the permitted route, no diversion or distraction is allowed from the permitted linear trek. The minimum size of a trekking group is five persons and the maximum is 15, the GO reads.
No agency or organisation or club shall be permitted to facilitate or organise trekking unless they are registered with the Forest department. The trekking group will be required to fill an application declaring “the group is participating on their own risk and shall not hold the Forest department, the government of Tamil Nadu responsible for any mishap leading to injury or death during the trek”.