Revenue officials take control of Nilgiris' 140-year-old wildlife association

OOTY: The process of closing down the 140-year-old Nilgiris Wildlife Environment Association (NWEA), the oldest of its kind in the country, has begun with revenue officials taking control of it. Collector of Nilgiris, J. Innocent Divya, who is also honorary president of the NWEA, said that as per the direction of the High Court, gathering of information on the antecedents of the members of NWEA will be done.

While it is pertinent to note that Deccan Chronicle on September 11, reported about NWEA facing closure, on Wednesday, the signs of curtains being brought down on it, began with revenue officials visiting the NWEA to take charge of the administration of the association. NWEA sources said that the ego of some senior office-bearers who tasted power, had led to unsavoury incidents in the past. These led to its closure.

“Problems for the NWEA began in 2012 when some senior members who lost the elections to the executive committee of the NWEA which governs the day-to-day affairs of the association, could not digest the new generation taking control. Some senior members who were office bearers and committee members for terms at a stretch, which helped them build a rapport with top IAS, IPS and IFS officials in the guise of NWEA functionaries, began to create problems for the committee from 2012. The issue thereafter landed in the court” NWEA sources added.When contacted, the Collector said that she had instructed the tahsildar to take charge of NWEA affairs since the executive committee members of the NWEA had resigned recently. “Since very valuable articles and books are in the NWEA, we want to secure them. As per the court directions, the administration will gather information about the antecedents of the members of NWEA. Till further directions from the court, the fishing hut being run by the NWEA for tourism in Mukurthiwill also be closed,” she added.