ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT--Notification of Elathur Lake as Bio-Diversity Heritage Site in Erode District under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

No. 519] CHENNAI, FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2025 Aavani 13, 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 ELATHUR LAKE AS BIO-DIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE IN ERODE DISTRICT UNDER THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ACT, 2002.

[G.O. Ms. No.165, Environment, Climate Change and Forest (FR.5), 28th August 2025, ஆவணி 12, விசுவாவசு, திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டு-2056.]

No. II(2)/ECCF/926(c)/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, Elathur lake is observed as one of the important bird habitats and hotspot for wintering grounds and breeding grounds for both resident and migratory birds and also has flagship species such as Northern Pintail, Bar-headed goose, Green-winged Teal. Elathur lake provides habitat to one Endangered (Steppe Eagle), two Vulnerable (River Tern and Greater Spotted Eagle), five near threatened (Asian Wolly-necked Stork, Red-necked Falcon, Painted Stork, Oriental Darter and Black- headed Ibis) bird species during the peak migratory period;

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 Elathur lake bounded in the Survey No. 436 measuring 37.42.50 Hectare located by the GPS Coordinates, as Elathur lake Biodiversity Heritage Site;

AND WHEREAS, the State Government considers that the Elathur lake 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: -Ex-II-2—(519) [1] 2 TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY Schedule .

: Elathur Lake Biodiversity Heritage Site

Name of the Biodiversity Heritage Site

: Erode

Name of the district

: Nambiyur

Name of the taluk

Name of the Town Panchayat : Elathur Town Panchayat

Survey Number : 436

Area in Hectare

: 37.42.50

Boundary description North: Survey Number: 437, 439, 462, 463, 464 and 466

South: Survey Number: 434, 435, 809, 808 and 807

East: Survey Number: 424, 426, 427, 429, 430, 431 and 432

West: Survey Number: 467 and 806

11.385139, 77.225314

GPS Coordinates

SUPRIYA SAHU, Additional Chief Secretary to Government.