Kerala govt cancels tree-felling order, makes chief wildlife warden fall man

By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Initiating a damage-control train, the state cabinet on Wednesday cancelled the order issued by the chief wildlife warden on November 5 approving Tamil Nadu’s request to chop 15 timber within the 40 cents of land downstream Mullaperiyar for strengthening the infant dam. The forest minister had frozen the order on November 7 after the choice triggered a political storm within the state.

Following the cabinet assembly, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan suspended Chief Wildlife Warden Bennichan Thomas, who’s among the many senior most IFS officers within the state. The suspension adopted the grievance raised by Forest Minister A Okay Saseendran that he was saved at midnight concerning the transfer.

Though Bennichan had promptly conveyed the choice to the extra chief secretary (water assets) and principal secretary (forest and wildlife), the disciplinary motion was initiated solely in opposition to him. Sources stated the position of the secretaries in finalising the choice was not proved past doubt.

At the cabinet assembly, Chief Secretary V P Joy briefed in regards to the authorized and technical points within the order. He stated the order wouldn’t stand authorized scrutiny. The authorized recommendation of the advocate common additionally favoured cancelling the order. “The order has been issued without obtaining clearances mandated by the Union government,” stated a press launch issued by the CM’s workplace. 

Oppn alleges conspiracy, seeks complete probe

“In an affidavit submitted earlier than the Supreme Court on January 22, it has been talked about clearly that the permission of Ministry of Forest and Environment and Climate Change and permission from National Wildlife Board standing committee had been required for slicing timber from the area. Also, the foundations of enterprise clearly instruct to put all issues concerning interstate relations earlier than the consideration of the state cabinet. This was not adopted.

Hence, the cabinet directed forest and wildlife principal secretary to cancel the order dated November 5,” stated the press launch issued by the CM’s workplace. Reacting to the cabinet resolution, Opposition Leader V D Satheesan stated a complete probe to deliver out the conspiracy behind the episode must be launched. “We have demanded a judicial probe into the problem within the meeting. The folks of the state must know who all are events to this conspiracy.

Even although the federal government now cancels the order, the harm has been achieved. Tamil Nadu can elevate the problem of the order and cancellation within the Supreme Court and that will weaken our case,” Satheesan advised reporters right here. State Congress president Okay Sudhakaran demanded the resignation of Saseendran. The cabinet additionally determined to represent a three-tier committee for dealing with points concerning interstate river points.

Interstate river water strategic council, interstate river water monitoring committee and interstate river water authorized and technical cell might be constituted to help the federal government and the interstate water advisory panel on disputes and different points concerning sharing of river water between neighbouring states. The committees have been tasked with serving to the federal government in taking selections that defend state’s curiosity in interstate river points. The CM will chair the strategic council and chief secretary will chair the monitoring committee. Technical and authorized cell will comprise senior officers who’re specialists in dealing with technical and authorized points of the problems.

OPPN ALLEGES CONSPIRACY

Chief Wildlife Warden Benni-chan Thomas is among the many seni-or most IFS offic-ers within the state

Chief Secretary V P Joy says the order wouldn’t stand authorized scrutiny

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan seeks complete probe to deliver out conspiracy

State Congress chief Okay Sudhakaran calls for the resignation of A Okay Saseendran