ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT--Notification of Nagamalai Hillock as Bio-Diversity Heritage Site In Erode District Under the Biological Diversity act, 2002.

© [Regd. No. TN/CCN/467/2012-14. GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU [R. Dis. No. 197/2009. 2025 [Price: Re. 0.80 Paise. TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 577] CHENNAI, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 Aavani 30, Visuvaavasu, Thiruvalluvar Aandu–2056 Part II—Section 2 Notifications or Orders of interest to a Section of the public issued by Secretariat Departments. NOTIFICATIONS BY GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT NOTIFICATION OF NAGAMALAI HILLOCK AS BIO-DIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE IN ERODE DISTRICT UNDER THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ACT, 2002. [G.O. Ms. No.195, Environment, Climate Change and Forest (fr.5), 15th September 2025, ஆவணி 30, விசுவாவசு, திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டு-2056.] No. II(2)/ECCF/994(e)/2025. WHEREAS, section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (Central Act 18 of 2003) provides for the declaration of areas as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS); AND WHEREAS, guideline 4 (g) of the Guidelines for selection and management of the Biodiversity Heritage Sites issued by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) provides that areas that provide habitats, aquatic or terrestrial, for seasonal migrant species for feeding and breeding may be identified as Biodiversity Heritage Sites and guideline 2 (e) of the said guidelines provides that the creation of Biodiversity Heritage Sites may not put any restriction on the prevailing practices and usages of the local communities, other than those voluntarily decided by them; AND WHEREAS, Nagamalai hillock is covered by native mosaic vegetation with dry deciduous, thorny and scrub forest type with sporadic grassland ecosystem with rich flora and avian biodiversity and flagship species such as Bonellis Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle and Pallid Harrier. Nagamalai Hillock has pre-historic evidence depicting the nature of the site as cairn circle of iron age, rock shelters equipment of ancient significance and natural springs/water aquifers. A large stone carving of the sculptured deity (Anjaneya) dating back to 700 years reflects a strong cultural significance of the Nagamalai Hillock as per the record of the Archaeology Department; AND WHEREAS, the State Government with an aim of bolstering biodiversity conservation, upon recommendation of the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board, have felt it necessary to declare the Nagamalai hillock bounded in the Survey Number 725/1 measuring 31.66.00 Hectare and in Survey Number 725/2 measuring 00.56.50 Hectare located by the GPS Coordinates, as Nagamalai hillock Biodiversity Heritage Site; AND WHEREAS, the State Government considers that the Nagamalai hillock in Erode district described in schedule below is of adequate biodiversity importance; NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (Central Act 18 of 2003), the Governor of Tamil Nadu, based on the recommendation of the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board, hereby notifies the area specified in the schedule below as a Biodiversity Heritage Site: - [ 1 ] Ex-II-2—(577)2 TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY Schedule. Name of the Biodiversity : Nagamalai hillock Biodiversity Heritage Site Heritage Site Name of the district : Erode Name of the taluk : Nambiyur Name of the Town : Elathur Town Panchayat Panchayat Survey Numbers and Survey Number Extent in Hectare extent 725/1 31.66.00 725/2 00.56.50 Boundary description North : Survey Number: 709, 710, 713, 714, 716, 717 and 719 South : Survey Number: 724,726,728, 731 and 732 East : Survey Number: 690, 688 and 687 West : Survey Number: 720,723 and 722 GPS Coordinates 11.382867, 77.291538 SUPRIYA SAHU, Additional Chief Secretary to Government. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF STATIONERY AND PRINTING, CHENNAI ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU