A proposed hot mix plant in Devala village near Gudalur in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district has triggered fierce opposition from local residents, environmentalists, and civil society groups.
The project, a tar manufacturing unit promoted by local businessman P Rayan, has come under scrutiny for violating multiple environmental norms and allegedly attempting to restart operations despite regulatory rejection. Located alarmingly close to the ecologically sensitive Valavayal Reserve Forest and a check dam supplying water to hundreds of villagers, the site has been a flashpoint of public anger. The Nilgiris District Pollution Control Board (PCB) earlier denied clearance to the project, citing concerns over air and water pollution as well as proximity violations. However, the project promoter has escalated the matter to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Appellate Authority in Chennai, seeking approval. Leading the community resistance is V Harris, a resident and president of the local action committee, who has formally petitioned the appellate authority. “The site lies merely 10 metres from protected forest land and is close to a public water source. This not only breaches pollution norms but also threatens the region’s fragile ecology,” Harris told the media. He added that the land is zoned for agriculture and cannot legally be converted for industrial use under existing property registration norms. Concerns are mounting due to the presence of another hot mix plant owned by the same promoter, just 60 metres away from the new site. That unit, operating since 2006, has been under sustained public protest and was sealed by revenue officials in 2020 for environmental violations, including massive dust emissions. The licence for this existing facility has not been renewed since March 31, 2025, due to non-compliance.
Community health concerns lie at the heart of the resistance. Residents complain of respiratory problems, allergies, and dust-related ailments attributed to emissions from the existing plant. The proposed unit, situated amidst 150 households and near a school, poses a renewed threat to public health, residents argue. According to guidelines issued by the Pollution Control Board in 2023, hot mix plants must be located at least one kilometre from towns, 500 metres from schools, and five kilometres from reserve forests. However, both the new and the existing plants flout these criteria, claims R Ranjith, coordinator of the O-Valley Makkal Iyakkam, an environmental advocacy group. “The violations are flagrant, and locals fear that attempts are being made to influence officials,” Ranjith alleged. An RTI response obtained by Harris confirms that the Nelliyalam municipality has not issued a licence to the existing unit — further raising questions about the legitimacy of operations. In a communication dated June 12, 2023, then District Forest Officer Kommu Omkaram wrote to the district collector warning that such a facility located just 400 metres from the sanctuary could disrupt local wildlife and compromise ecological balance. In a region celebrated for its biodiversity and rich tribal heritage, the pushback in Devala represents more than a local protest. It reflects a broader struggle to preserve environmentally sensitive areas against the pressures of industrial expansion.
While the matter now lies before the appellate authority, the outcome will set a precedent for how development and environmental sustainability are balanced in India’s hill districts. For now, the people of Devala continue their fight — not just to protect their health, but to safeguard the ecological sanctity of the Nilgiris.
