In a first, the Tamil Nadu Forest department has acquired 30.41 acres of erstwhile private patta land, situated in the core area of Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR).
It came into being in 2021, making it the youngest of the five tiger reserves in the state.
The land was acquired through private negotiation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
This is the first time in India where the state government has purchased private land for non-commercial use towards forest and biodiversity conservation.