COIMBATORE: Based on the order of Madras High Court, Boluvampatti forest range officials started allowing people to trek up the Velliangiri hills from February 9. Forest department staff are fixing CCTV cameras and barricades to regulate devotees ahead of Maha Sivarathiri which falls on March 8.
Like last year, devotees will be allowed to climb the seven hills of Velliangiri mountains with water bottles and get refund of Rs 20 for each once they return them at the counters in the foothills. Last year, the hill was opened for devotees on February 17 and closed on March 31. A total of two lakh devotees visited the temple, sources said.
“Barricades were placed at Thanner pandal and vehicles were not allowed after 6 pm due to movement of elephants in the area. Three people died in elephant attack in the last two years between Thaneer Pandal and Velliangiri foothills which is close to an elephant path.
In the wake of the HC order, we removed the barricades and are allowing vehicles after 6 pm. On February 9, a youth escaped from an elephant attack. However his car was damaged,” said an official.
“We will deploy our personnel at the fourth hill and sixth hill to prevent forest fires and educate people not to discard clothes. At the foothills, we will fix install CCTV cameras and audio streaming device urging people not to take plastic items up the hill,” the official added.
Sources said the high court directed Coimbatore forest division to allow people to climb the hills to the Shiva temple atop based on a writ petition. Trekking would be allowed till May as per the court order, sources added.