Gudalur, (T.Nadu), Dec 31 : Over 50,000 people, including tribals, took part in a protest rally here on Tuesday, demanding immediate withdrawal of notification to declare Mudumalai area in Nilgiris district as a 'tiger reserve', saying it would displace thousands of people.
The rally, organised under the banner of People's Livelihood Rights Protection Movement, termed the notification of the 'critical tiger habitat' as "illegal" and it was given without the consent of the gram sabhas and without any scientific investigation.
The traffic on the Ooty-Kozhikode and Ooty-Mysore road was totally paralysed for about four hours, as the participants squatted on the road in protest of the creation of Tiger Project.
In a resolution adopted at the rally, in which Congress MP, R Prabhu and former AIADMK Minister, A Miller and local MLAs also participated, demanded that the Forest Right Recognition Act 2006, which recognised the livelihood rights of the people and protected their traditional rights, be immediately implemented.
Another resolution said, action should be taken under Section seven of the Act against the forest department officials, who had allegedly violated the law.
All the shops and commercial establishments in this town downed their shutters in support of the rally.