Taking note of the large number of deaths of deer on campus, the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed IIT Madras to protect all endangered species, including blackbuck as per a report in The Times of India.
Judicial Member Justice MS Nambiar, directed IIT Madras to ensure that no further damage or injury is caused to the animals, including endangered species on campus.
He added that all animals, including those under the Wild Life Protection Act, should be protected in the campus.
The NGT was acting on a petition by honorary animal welfare officer, Antony Rubin, of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), who had moved the tribunal earlier this year.
Questioning the number of deaths of deer and blackbucks in the campus, Antony Rubin had filed an RTI on April 6, 2017.
"It was quite shocking. 220 deer and 8 blackbucks had died between 2014 and 2016 but nobody has even made a noise about it. As far as cause of deaths are concerned, only one death has been attributed to an accident," he had earlier told TNM.
In the latest incident on June 25, 2017, a one-year-old fawn was found dead inside the IIT-Madras campus after a speeding vehicle allegedly hit the animal.
In his petition to the NGT, he had also asked for a complete ban on non-recyclable plastics in the IIT campus, as well as shifting of ‘Shaastra’, ‘Saarang’ and other events outside the campus since they draw large crowds inside IIT-M.
In the petition marked to the State of Tamil Nadu, IIT-M, Greater Chennai Corporation, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, he had also highlighted the “Various negligent human activities including improper disposal of solid waste, speeding vehicles within IIT-M.”
Acting on his plea, the tribunal had last month ordered the institute to remove all solid waste dumped in the campus premises.
The state pollution control board submitted its inspection report on Wednesday and the matter has been posted for further hearing on January 24, 2018.