PALNI HILLS CONSERVATION COUNCIL (PHCC) The Palni Hills Conservation Council was registered as a Society under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, on 27 Novermber 1985, in Dindigul. The members of the first Executive Committee are as follows: The Registration number is: S No 88 of 1985 1. M. S. Viraraghavan - President, PHCC 2. K. M. Mathew - Vice President 3. Norman C. Habel - Vice President 4. C. Karunakaran - Secretary 5. C. Jeyakaran - Joint Secretary 6. V. M. I. Francis Raj - Treasurer 7. Romulus Whitaker - Ex. Committee member 8. P. Mukherjee - Ex. Committee member 9. V. R. Rajagopal 10. G. Roshan 11. D. Nagel 12. J. Pouyet 13. W.P.A.R. Nagarajan 14. G. Viraraghavan 15. T. Murali 16. N. Natarajan The following were coopted into membership of the PHCC. 1. K.S. Rajan 2. S.M. Gowri Shanker (representing Madras Environmental Society) The following is the list of other members of the PHCC. 1. V. Sampath 2. T. Rajkumar 3. J. Forbes 4. Fred Haywood 5. G. S. Mani 6. B. Venkatraman 7. Mrs. Haywood 8. G. Soundrapandian 9. P. R. K. Bhaskaran 10. J. Nath 11. Navroz Mody 12. Rauf Ali 13. R. Chanchani The Executive Committee met six times since November, at an average of one meeting every month, and had extensive discussions. The first meeting of members interested in the conservation of the Palni Hills was sponsored by the Kodaikanal Citizens Committee, and it was held on August 2nd, 1985 at the K.M.U. Hall. An Ad Hoc committee was formed to work out the details for the formation and effective functioning of the PHCC. The Ad Hoc committee met on August 3rd, 1985 and a few sub committees were formed to work out the details of registration of the Society, preparation of a memorandum to be submitted to the Government, and to study and suggest a plan for the new Kodaikanal Township Reservoir. The Ad Hoc committee met four times between August and November, and several decisions were taken. It was decided that the Postal address of the PHCC will be "The Nutshell", Convent Road, Kodaikanal. REGISTRATION The Sub-Committee formed to draft out an appropriate Article of Association objectives, rules and regulations of the PHCC met quite a few times and worked on this issue. A draft was prepared and discussed among members in September, 1985. Subsequently in October 1985, the finalized Memorandum of Association was signed by several members, for formal registration purposes, and the first Executive Committee of the PHCC, consisting of 16 members was also formed. Mr. V. M. I. Francis Raj played an important role in the preparation of this document, and its subsequent registration under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, at Dindigul on 27 November, 1985. SHOLA REGENERATION PROJECT It was unanimously felt by members that in the upper Palni Hills only exotic species of trees have and are being planted; hence it was decided to give suitable impetus to growing indigenous Shola tree species as an ecologically viable alternative to the commercial exotics. Several members of the PHCC, have since then been involved in collecting seeds of Shola trees, raising Shola nurseries, and studying their growth. About 3500 Shola seedlings from seeds representing 5 species, have been raised by the PHCC members, and six other species seeds have been planted in nursery beds. A project report has been prepared by a sub-committee to afforest 100 hectares of the Kodai Reservoir catchment area with Shola trees as a pilot experiment and demonstration plot. The other objectives of this project are to prevent soil erosion in the reservoir by establishing a good tree cover in the catchment area, enhancement of perenniality of feeder streams, standardization of nursery technology, and arousing environmental awareness by involving local schools in the planting program. The project period is spread over 5 years, and is anticipated to cost about Rs. 13.5 lakhs, and it has been submitted to the Department of Environment, New Delhi, for funding. MEMORANDUM TO THE GOVERNMENT It was decided to submit a Memorandum to the Prime Minister on some of the environmental problems in the Palnis, and recommend suitable action. Mr. Romulus Whitaker prepared the initial draft, and after several discussions the memorandum was redrafted and sent to the Prime Minister on 26th January, 1986. A very encouraging reply has come from the Secretary, Department of Environment, New Delhi, urging us to help prepare a long term eco-development plan for the Palnis. When the Tamil Nadu Governor visited Kodai in March 1986, a delegation of the PHCC members met the Governor on 20 March 1986, and the Memorandum was handed over to him. The Governor showed keen interest and appreciated the steps taken by the PHCC in preserving the Palni Hills environment. THE MANJALAR WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (MWDP) The MWDP offers excellent scope to act as a model for an ecologically sustainable, and integrated management of Watersheds. At the invitation of the Anna District Collector, a team of PHCC members have been visiting the Manjalar Watershed, and based on their observations a report has been prepared and submitted to the concerned authorities for appropriate action. The Aurovilleans who are members of the PHCC have offered their expertise in wasteland regeneration to afforest about 400 hectares of Revenue land in the Manjalar foreshore area, to act as a model for other farmers to follow, so that the demand for firewood and timber is met in the plains itself, and the pressure on the forest is reduced. ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION Fr. K. M. Mathew, Vice President of the PHCC is doing pioneering work in imparting environment conservation education program for students and teachers at the Anglade Institute of Natural History, Shenbaganur. Several members of the PHCC have been closely associated with the AINH nature education programs by acting as resource persons for the various courses, and being involved in the field work of raising nurseries. Courses have been organized for villagers as well, and great importance is placed in creating environmental awareness through these courses, among the villagers living in the Palni Hills. In the long run only a dedicated cadre of environmentally aware and motivated local people can reverse the environment degradation taking place around where they live. MASTER PLAN Two draft master plans for Kodai were received by the PHCC during this year - The Tourism Department's Master Plan, and the Town and Country planning department zoning plan for kodai. Two sub-committees were set up to critically evaluate these plans and give their recommendations. The sub-committees reports have been forwarded to the concerned Government for further action. Mrs. Tara Murali contributed significantly in preparing the PHCC's recommendations. SATURDAY EVENING MEETINGS The PHCC has served as a focal point for environmentally motivated people to gather together, discuss and work on environmental issues facing the Palni Hills. In order to increase interaction among the PHCC members, it was decided to have informal meetings on every Saturday from 4.00 p.m., at the "Nutshell". It is also felt that all members of the PHCC must be members of some sub-committee in the PHCC, so that everyone has an opportunity to contribute their talent to the cause of keeping the Palni Hills beautiful and healthy. Some of the other issues being tackled by the PHCC is the harmful use of methanyl yellow for coloring potatoes grown in the Palnis; the analysis of water in the Kodai lake, reservoir and Berijam lake; and also the possibility of having PHCC members as Honorary wardens to protect the Sholas around Kodai; plans were also made to start a PHCC news-letter, but it may materialize only later this year. MEMBERSHIP As on 31st March 1986, there are 31 members in the PHCC - 8 life members and 21 ordinary members - and 2 co-opted member. There was a delay in deciding the logo and printing of application forms, and hence an intensive membership drive could not be launched. However, we are confident the membership will increase substantially in the coming year. A total of Rs. 1,510/- for Life Members and Rs. 585/- towards Annual membership fee was received as Subscription by the PHCC and the expenses have been Rs. 399.75. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Executive Committee would like to place on record its special thanks to the Kodai International School and Gandhi Vidyashram for their assistance in various matters in the effective functioning of the PHCC; many thanks are also due to the Pudukottai Raja family for graciously agreeing to let the PHCC use a room in their bungalow at the "Nutshell". We also wish to thank the Anna District Collector and the Kodaikanal Sub-Collector for taking us into confidence and initiating several useful dialogues in the cause of preparing an environmentally sustainable development plan for the Palni Hills. (Sd.)M. S. Viraraghavan President - PHCC