Arittapatti becomes first Biodiversity Heritage site in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday notified Arittapatti as the first Biodiversity Heritage site in the state.

Arittapatti, a cluster of seven hillocks near Melur in Madurai district, which is home to rare birds including 20 species of birds of prey , raptors,  and variety  of  flora and fauna.

In a notification, the TN government said, “To strengthen biodiversity conservation and to protect the area from rapid loss of biodiversity the State Government upon recommendation of Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board has felt it necessary to declare the area as Arittapatti Bio Diversity Heritage Site”.

A total of 193.2 hectares in Meenakshipuram in Madurai taluk and Arittapatti in Melur taluk have been notified as the biodiversity heritage sites.

Lauding the decision, Addl Chief Secretary Environment Climate Change and Forests, said that,  “Arittapatti is nothing less than a biodiversity paradise with several endemic species and a historical heritage which dates back to thousands of years.

“The government has issued this notification to strengthen the biodiversity and to protect the loss of it and this  will put an end to over-exploitation of natural resources and avoid environmental degradation,” she added.

Arittapatti is home for around 250 bird species including 3 flagship Raptor species- Laggar Falcon,Shaheen Falcon , Bonelli’s Eagle  and wildlife like Indian Pangolin Python  and Slender Loris .

It also consists of a chain of seven barren granite hillocks. The unique rocky hill scape functions as a watershed and supports 72 lakes, 200 natural spring pools and 3 check dams.

The entire region is of historical importance and harbors several megalithic structures, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions.

Arittapatti is also known for its Jain vestiges, a Pandya-era rock-cut temple for Lord Siva with a rare sculpture of Lakulisa, a prominent shaivite revivalist, reformist and preceptor of the doctrine of the Pashupatas, one of the oldest sects of Shaivism.

Arittapatti consists of a chain of seven barren granite hillocks. The unique rocky hill scape functions as a watershed and supports 72 lakes, 200 natural spring pools and 3 check dams.