Why Isha Yoga Center "Shouldn't Be Exempted" from Environmental Impact Assessment?

 Saandhu

19.1.2022

Introduction

Tamil Nadu Government had notified Coimbatore Elephant Reserve in the year 2003. Mukurthi National Park, Nilgiri South Forest Division and Coimbatore Forest Division are its components. Coimbatore Forest Division occupies a major portion of this Reserve.

 Coimbatore Elephant Reserve acts as the bridge between Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Eastern Ghat Elephant Landscape (BNEGEL) in the North and Nilambur-Silent Valley-Attapadi Elephant Landscape (NSVAEL) in the South West. BNEGEL is home to about 10,000 elephants and NSVAEL is home to about 1000 elephants. These two populations migrate during monsoon seasons through Coimbatore Elephant Reserve . This migration facilitates gene flow between them. About 200-250 elephants are said to be present in this Reserve at any point of time. These landscapes are home to the largest Asian Elephant populations of the world.

 Earlier research on elephant migration in Coimbatore Forest Division from 1993-2014 (22 years) have indicated an increasing trend in Human Death and Injury due to elephant attacks from the year 2000.

 

“ Totally 96 human deaths due to elephants were recorded during the past 22 years (1993-2014). Of which, 2013 attributed highest deaths (n=18) followed by 2010 (n=17) and 2012 (n=11). From 1999 to 2009 over a period of 10 years, the casualty ranged from just 1-8. On the contrary the trend has suddenly changed as 17 human deaths had occurred during 2010 and the subsequent years of 2011 to 2013, the casualty ranged from 7-18 (Fig-1). It is important to note that any human deaths were not reported during 1993 to 1998. Wilcoxon rank test reveals that there is no difference in human death before the year of 2000 (Z=1.265, P+0.206). Interestingly, there is a significant difference in human death after 2000 (Z=2.805, P=0.005). ( K.Ramkumar et al., “Consequences of land use land cover changes in elephant migratory route of Coimbatore Forest Division, Tamil Nadu, India “, in International Symposium on Ecology and Health Management of Asiatic Elephant, November 2015)

 

The authors of the above cited paper summarise the reasons for the increasing trend of human deaths in Coimbatore forest Division and also propose the possible solutions for overcoming them as follows:

 

“ Human deaths caused by elephants increased drastically in last five years (ref.year 2014) in Coimbatore Forest Division. Conversion of each Land Use Land Cover(LULC) types will obstruct and divert the elephant movement from the actual Elephant Migratory Route (EMR) on their own way and lead to severe Human Elephant Conflict (HEC). Thus land use changes should be controlled effectively in EMR in order to control HEC issues in this division. Solar Fence, Elephant Proof Trench (EPT) and other preventive methods can be considered as only short term, which may provide only some immediate relief. In addition to EPT, modern tools using mobile communications such as mobile alerts and alarms and early warning system about elephant presence can be tried. As long term measure, intensive management of elephant migratory routed=s is needed. Also, management strategies in this division should be aimed at regulating land use changes in private lands at least 2 km from forest boundary, habitat improvement in foothill forests and detailed research on factors of human elephant conflict and new techniques on control measures. Private lands located at least 200m from foothill forest should be freed from all sort of physical barriers. Water sources could be provided along every 5 km in the forest foothills during summer, to negate the need for the elephants to move further inlands into human areas.”

 

Human death and injury due to elephant attacks have dramatically increased after 2014. 

 

Incidence	1993-2014 (22 years)	2011 - 2021 (11 years)
Human Death/Injury	96	233

   

This alarming increase in Human Death is especially noted in Boluvampatti, Coimbatore and Periyanaickenpalayam Forest Ranges of the Division. This paper deals with the human mortality and morbidity trends in Boluvampatti Range and puts forward a hypothesis that explains the reason for this increase in the trend.

 

Materials and Method 

Data pertaining to human death and injury due to elephant attacks for the period 2011-2021 in Coimbatore Forest Division was obtained from the Tamil Nadu Forest Department through RTI. Maps of BNEGEL and NSVAEL, Coimbatore Elephant Reserve, Coimbatore Forest Division with its seven Ranges, Boluvampatti Forest Division with its three geographical regions and 10 beats were prepared using QGIS software. Data were sorted and analysed using Excel and JASP software. The result was compared with the results of earlier researches.

 

Result

                

Period	No.of Deaths/Injuries
2011-2021 (11 years) Coimbatore Forest Division	233
2011-2015 (5 years) Coimbatore Forest Division	54
2016-2021 (6 years) Coimbatore Forest Division	179
2011-2015 (5 years) Boluvampatti	12 out of 54	22.2% of total deaths/injuries in CFD
2016-2021 (6 years) Boluvampatti	61 out of 179	34.07% of total deaths/injuries in CFD
Boluvampatti Range.% Increase during the second period from the first one		53.33%

 

 Boluvampatti Range has 10 forest beats. They are: 

1.Marudhamalai

2. Kembanur

3, Devarayapuram

4. Narasipuram

5. Poondi North

6. Poondi South

7. Mullankadu

8. Vellapathy

9. Mangalapalayam West

10. Mangalapalayam East

 

Out of these 10 beats, the first four remain in the northern hill region, the second four in the western hill region and the last two remain in the southern hill region. 

Death / Injury Rates to humans due to elephant attacks in these regions and beats are as follows (Share of conflict in each beat in relation to the total conflicts in Coimbatore Forest Division is given in brackets):

Forest Beats	2011-2015	2016-2021	% increase	Regions	2011-2015	2016-2021	% increase
Marudhamalai	1(1/54=1.85 %)	3(3/179 = 1.68%)	-9.19%	North	2(2/54 = 3.7%)	18(18/179=10.06%)	+171.89%
Kembanur	0	3(3/179 = 1.68%)	+1.68%
Devarayapuram	0	4(4/179 = 2.23%)	+2.23%
Narasipuram	1(1/54=1.85%)	8(8/179 = 4.47%)	+141.62
Poondi North	0	3(3/179 = 1.68%)	+1.68%	West	6(6/54=11.11%)	30(30/179=16.76%)	+50.86%
Poondi South	3(3/54=5.56%)	5(5/179 = 2.79%)	-49.82%
Mullankadu	3(3/54=5.56%)	15(15/179=8.38%)	+50.72%
Vellapathy	0	7(7/179 = 3.91%)	+3.91%
Mangalapalayam West	1(1/54=1.85%)	8(8/179 = 4.47%)	+141.62%	South	4(4/54=7.4%)	11(11/179=6.15%)	-16.89%
Mangalapalayam East	3(3/54=5.56%)	3(3/179= 1.68%)	-69.78%
Location Not Available	0	2(2/179 = 11.17%)	+11.17%		0	2	+11.17%
Total	12(12/54=22.22%)	61(61/179=34.08%)	+53.38%		12(12/54=22.22%)	61(61/179=34.08%)	+53.38%

 

Discussion

The proportion of humans injured and dead due to elephant attacks from Boluvampatti Range of Coimbatore Forest Division has increased from 22.22% to 34.08% of the total number of human deaths/injury in Coimbatore Forest Division.

The increase in death rate in Boluvampatti Range is due to its steep rise in the Northern (+171.89% of the previous period) and Western Regions (+50.86% of the previous period) from the year 2016. Death rate in the southern region of Boluvampatti has reduced  (-16.89% of the previous period) during this period.

It should be remembered that this increase in HEC leading to a sharp increase in human death rate in this region was indeed anticipated in the letter written by the District Forest Officer, Coimbatore Mr.Thirunavukkarasu IFS to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in the year 2012 itself. (R.C.No.VI/8120/2011 Dated:17.08.2012) 

Construction of Adi Yogi Statue of Isha Yoga Center began in the year 2016. Construction of walk path and vehicle parking lot for this Statue obstructs the movement of elephants from Sadivayal Elephant Habitat in the west to the migratory path extending east from Narasipuram. Similarly, various buildings of Isha Yoga Center being constructed north east of the core Isha habitation obstructs the movement of elephants from Narasipuram to Sadivayal elephant habitat. As there are no other land use land cover changes in this area other than these two mega construction activities in this period, it is most probable that they are the reasons for the alarming rise of human deaths and injuries due to agitated elephants.

 

Conclusion

Sadivayal Elephant Habitat is the only major flat forested land (500 m above mean sea level) south of Karamadai Range of Coimbatore Forest Division where food, water and space is available in plenty for the elephants that are migrating seasonally from Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Easter Ghat Elephant Landscape to the Nilambur-Silent Valley-Attapadi Elephant Landscape. It has an area of 14 square kilometers and is bestowed with a perennial water source (Noyyal River). This forested land has about 7 tribal settlements and has existed here for more than 1000 years. No human death have been reported from this area before the year 1996. Following the construction of Karunya University and Chinmaya School in the eastern and Isha Yoga center in the north eastern directions during this period, human deaths due to elephant attacks have started occurring in this area. Construction of Adi Yogi Statue and related structures from the year 2016 has increased this phenomenon many fold.

Considering and comparing the history of the HEC scenario in the neighbouring Thadagam Valley for the same period (2011-2021) would be useful for policy makers. 3 humans died in the period between 2011 and 2015; whereas 29 individuals were either dead or injured between 2016 and 2021. The 200 plus illegal brick kilns and 800 plus illegal brick earth quarries were closed and sealed on 19.03.2021 by the District Administration following an Order from the Madras High Court dated 10.02.2021. Operations of 1000 Lorries, 800 Tipper Lorries and 800 JCBs were halted that day. In the months that followed this closure and end of the operations in the year 2021, the Valley was to witness just 1 elephant attack on an individual, from which he survived. The Valley was free from HEC for the entire year of 2022.  

HEC data on Boluvampatty Valley for the period 2011-2021 should be considered and analysed seriously by the State's policy makers. The data paints a very grim picture for the future of the largest population of Asian Elephants in the world and also human beings living in that region. Rereading the letter written by the DFO, Coimbatore to the PCCF dated 17.08.2012 regarding the very real possibility of increased HEC in this region because of the fast expanding construction of buildings, becomes very imperative today. Conducting an  Environmental Impact Assessment for Isha Yoga Center by an Expert Body is the need of the hour. Exempting it from this Assessment is certainly not warranted.