Guindy National Park Still under Threat - More Support Needed

In the last 15 days, there has been a good progress on our campaign with lot of media attention. The Hindu, Times Of India and The New Indian Express have covered our campaign. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-events/joining-hands-to-save-trees/article6183415.ece#comments http://www.thehindu.com/features/downtown/a-buffer-zone-around-guindy-park-needed/article6203717.ece http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Campaign-to-stop-construction-on-IIT-Madras-campus-gets-momentum/articleshow/36828562.cms http://m.newindianexpress.com/chennai/334210 On 6 July at 5.30 p.m. we organised a human chain on Besant Nagar beach to urge the Government to announce buffer zones for all national parks and sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu. We had a group of more than 200 people from all walks of life including school & college students joined this. The current proposals for buffer zones, including around the Guindy Park, are prompted by the concerns of builders rather than the well-being of the environment and protection of wilderness. On 3rd July, 2014 a copy of the petition was handed over to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Mr. Lakshmi Narayan, IFS, and the Principal Secretary (Environment & Forests) to the Government of Tamil Nadu. They have said they will look into it. From our conversations, it became abundantly clear that massive forces are ranged against the interests of wild spaces and wildlife not just in Guindy National Park but also at every national park and sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. It also became clear that an overwhelming show of public support for the park is the only thing that will empower forest department officials to take on the building and construction mania." We have got more than 13,000 signatures including alumni & students of IIT Madras, have signed the Save Guindy National Park petition so far. However, we need more support and more signatures. So please forward this message to your friends and ask them to sign the petition.