Tiruvannamalai district issues eviction notices to 1,535 illegal settlers on Arunachala Hills

The Tiruvannamalai district administration has initiated the first phase of an eviction drive on Arunachala Hills, issuing notices to 1,535 illegal structures, predominantly residential houses and commercial establishments. The move follows a detailed enumeration by the Revenue Department, which identified approximately 3,535 encroachments in the hill area, many along the Girivalam path.

Of the total encroachments, 1,535 structures are confirmed to be on government land, while the remaining 2,000 are on disputed parcels where land records are untraceable. The drive covers roughly 576 acres of encroached land, including about 20 acres of forest land.

The eviction is being carried out in phases, with occupants given a 30-day grace period to voluntarily vacate before demolition. The operation is being monitored by a high-level committee appointed by the Madras High Court, with the aim of restoring the original forest land. District Collector Vandana Garg is overseeing the process in coordination with revenue, police, civic body, forest, and power utility officials.

A key trigger for the drive was the December 1, 2024 landslide that killed seven people, prompting authorities to act against encroachments that heighten landslide risks, especially during the monsoon. Of the illegal settlements, 143 fall within the Tiruvannamalai Corporation limits, spanning six wards.

Revenue officials note that land up to six kilometres from the foothills belongs to the revenue department, while the remaining area is forest land. Once cleared, the reclaimed land will be merged with the existing forest cover in the hills.