Environmental activists highlight various sites of archaeological and biodiversity significance

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At the gram sabha meetings held across Melur taluk in Madurai district as part of the 80th Independence Day celebrations, one of the common resolutions passed was with regard to protection of the environment and heritage sites.

Environmental activists pointed out that there were several sites of archaeological and biodiversity significance across Madurai and Theni districts. These sites should be declared as biodiversity heritage sites similar to that of Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram in Madurai district and Kasampatty in Dindigul district, they said.

The Tamil Nadu government in 2022 issued a notification declaring Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages in Madurai district as a biodiversity heritage site in the State. The site comprising 139.63 hectares in Arittapatti village (Melur block) and 53.8 hectares in Meenakshipuram village (Madurai East taluk) known as Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage site was the first biodiversity heritage site in Tamil Nadu.

In 2025, the government notified Kasampatty (Veera Kovil) sacred grove as a Biodiversity Heritage Site. Located near Alagarmalai Reserve Forest in Dindigul district, Kasampatty, was the second biodiversity heritage site in Tamil Nadu.

Activist Tamil Dasan said there were at least 11 sites of archaeological and biodiversity significance in Madurai district which included Kottaimalai, Aruvimalai, Somagiri, Kallangadu and Vellimalai in Melur. Mondrumalai, Poigaimalai, Onankaradu and Malai Kovil kadu in Usilampatti and Samanatham and Idayapatti. A butterfly park could also be developed along the Sathiyar dam range, he said.

In Theni district, Jakkammal Karadu, Meenakshipuram Tank and Thamaraikulam were places of archaeological and biodiversity significance, he pointed out.

Activist and a resident of Melur K. Selvaraj said similar to the Slender Loris sanctuary in Kadavur-Ayyalur region which was spread across Dindigul and Karur districts, another Slender Loris sanctuary should be established in Melur-Singampuneri region across Madurai and Sivaganga districts, he said, adding that efforts should be taken towards their conservation.

Another demand of the people of Melur was to declare Kallangadu region as a biodiversity heritage site. He said there were ancient temples and sacred grove, and a wide variety of plants including Usilai, Kurutham, Vidathalai, Kala, Kaarai, Aathi, Aazham, Arasam, Thailam, Kurinji, Thirugukalli, Sengathari, Manchanathi and Sirupoonaikali.

The region was also a habitat for deer, slender loris, monitor lizard, peafowl, mongoose, jungle cat, and various bird species, he said.

Mr. Selvaraj said several petitions had been submitted to the authorities to declare Kallangadu as a biodiversity heritage spot.