The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked authorities to reconsider a quarry proposal near the Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary in Thoothukudi district, with protection for blackbucks in mind.
- Tamil Nadu's State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) must review the project afresh with strict wildlife safeguards.
- The stone and gravel quarry spans about 6.02 hectares and lies roughly 1.7–1.9 km from the sanctuary.
- The blackbuck (Indian antelope) is in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the highest legal protection.
- The sanctuary covers about 16.41 sq km of dry scrub forest.