TAMIL NADU
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE
EXTRAORDINARY
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
©
[Regd. No. TN/CCN/467/2012-14.
GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU
[R. Dis. No. 197/2009.
2025
[Price: Re. 0.80 Paise.
No. 115]
CHENNAI, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025
Maasi 28, Kurothi, 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
[1]
II-2 Ex. (115)
ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT
NOTIFICATION OF KASAMPATTY (VEERA KOVIL) SACRED GROVE AS BIODIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE IN
DINDIGUL DISTRICT OF THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ACT, 2002 UNDER THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
ACT, 2002.
[G.O. Ms. No. 52, Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR.5), 12th March 2025,
மாசி 28, குரோோதி, திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டு-2056.]
No. II(2)/ECCF/231(a)/2025.
WHEREAS, section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (Central Act No.18 of 2003) provides for the declaration
of areas as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS);
AND WHEREAS, guideline 4(c) of the Guidelines for selection and management of the Biodiversity Heritage Sites
issued by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) provides that, “areas that are significant from a biodiversity point of view
as also are important cultural spaces such as sacred groves/trees and sites or other large community conserved areas”,
could be identified as Biodiversity Heritage Sites and guideline 4(e) 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, the sacred groves in Tamil Nadu are exceptional examples of important natural habitats for in-situ
conservation of biological diversity, containing the existence of rare and threatened species. The locations also symbolize
ongoing ecological, cultural, and biological processes in evolution. The cultural and natural heritage of the State qualifies
to be recognized as per the provisions of the said Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (Central Act No.18 of 2003).
AND WHEREAS, the Kasampatty (Veera Koil) sacred grove, described in the schedule below represents a special
fusion of socio-ecological, eco-theological and revered beliefs and is rich in biodiversity. The said area encompass
substantial regions safeguarded by the local community and are noteworthy for their significance, distinctiveness and
biodiversity.
AND WHEREAS, the local people exhibit extreme discipline by not taking out even a twig or leaf and prohibiting the
use of footwear even while crossing or entering this sacred grove.