Nilgiris: Probe into illegal boulder dumping in Geddai stream amid flood fears

The Revenue and Forest Departments are investigating the illegal dumping of boulders into a stream that feeds the Geddai Dam in the Nilgiris, an act that local residents say could endanger lives during heavy rains.

Officials said the Horticulture Department had granted the owners of a parcel of agricultural land in Kil Kundha permission to clear boulders from their property between August 14 and 19. However, the landowners allegedly violated the terms by dumping at least two loads of excavated boulders into a stream originating from Thaishola Estate and flowing into the Geddai Dam.

Residents who noticed the violation said the loose rocks along the dry riverbed could be swept away during the next spell of heavy rain, posing a risk to people and nearby structures. The stream is a seasonal watercourse, but it carries significant runoff during the northeast monsoon, which typically brings heavy rainfall to the Nilgiris between October and December.

Forest Department officials said the stream lies on revenue land, and they have conducted an inspection of the site. The landowners have been informed about the violation, they added.

B. Gunavathi, Tahsildar of Kundha, confirmed that the landowners were granted permission to remove the boulders with clear instructions not to dump them in streams or riverbeds. A team from the Revenue Department inspected the site and directed the landowners to remove the boulders from the stream and dispose of them on their own land.

Environmental experts note that dumping boulders or debris into natural water channels is a violation of the Karnataka Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2002, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, as it can obstruct water flow, increase flood risk, and damage aquatic ecosystems. In hilly terrain like the Nilgiris, such practices can also trigger landslides during heavy rainfall.

The incident highlights the need for stricter oversight of land-clearing permissions, which are often granted without adequate monitoring. The district administration has not yet announced any penal action against the landowners, but the investigation is ongoing.

Local residents have urged the authorities to ensure the boulders are removed before the monsoon intensifies, warning that delay could lead to a disaster. The Nilgiris district has witnessed several incidents of illegal construction and debris dumping in recent years, prompting calls for better enforcement of environmental regulations.