The Madras High Court Bench here on Thursday sought the reply of Theni District Forest Officer to a public interest litigation petition accusing his department of collecting Rs.5 per head from those visiting the Suruli waterfalls apart from vehicle entry charges collected by Surulipatti panchayat.
Justices A. Selvam and V.S. Ravi ordered notice to the DFO, Collector as well as a host of other officials on the petition filed by B. Muthupandi (39), a resident of the village, who claimed that the forest department was collecting the money under the guise of levying service charge on eco-tourism.
According to the petitioner, the falls in his village had a historic significance since it had found place even in ancient Tamil epic Silapathikaram penned by Ilango Adigal. There were also about five caves near the falls representing rock-cut architecture of the 11th century.
The falls had been attracting large number of tourists since it was believed that the water had medicinal properties and it could cure diseases. Further, the Suruli hill was part of the Pothigai range considered to be a spiritual centre by Hindus as well as Muslims since there was also a Dargah in the locality.
The Surulipatti panchayat had established a toll gate at the entrance to the falls and had been collecting vehicle entry charges at the rate of Rs.5 for two-wheelers, Rs.10 for auto-rickshaws, cars and other light motor vehicles, Rs.20 for vans, Rs.30 for tractors and Rs.40 from buses and trucks.
Suddenly from May 1 this year, the forest department had begun collecting Rs.5 from every visitor to the falls. “The said charges were being collected without any government order or authority,” the petitioner alleged and sought to restrain the officials from collecting the toll.
