Mullaperiyar dam: Kerala freezes order permitting TN to fell timber 

By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has frozen the order issued by the forest division granting permission to Tamil Nadu for the felling of timber in Mullaperiyar. The officer who’s chargeable for issuing the order should face motion, stated forest minister AK Saseendran.

It could also be recalled that Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin had thanked his Kerala counterpart for granting permission for felling 15 timber downstream of the Baby Dam at Mullaperiyar reservoir to facilitate the strengthening of the Baby Dam. However, Saseendran responded saying that no permission was granted to Tamil Nadu to fell timber to his data and he has requested the chief principal conservator of forests for an in depth report.

Following backlash from the Opposition and in addition from throughout the LDF, the State Government on Sunday introduced that it has frozen the order permitting Tamil Nadu to chop 15 timber on the backside of the newborn dam at Mullaperiyar. Saseendran blamed the Wildlife Conservator for issuing orders permitting the timber to be reduce. He informed reporters that there was a critical lapse from the facet of the official and in addition warned of stringent motion in opposition to these officers.

This motion was taken after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan intervened within the difficulty. The State Government is seeing the difficulty as an unnatural transfer and the explanation behind the sanction to chop the timber is unknown. The forest division officers have knowledgeable that the order was issued following a gathering convened by the water assets principal secretary.

“Whatever be the situation, the State Government should also be aware of what’s happening when a crucial decision is taken. The officials are not above the Government. The situation was discussed with the Chief Minister on Saturday itself”, stated Saseendran.

He additionally added that because the order has been issued, there was no different approach however to freeze it. But the forest minister feigned ignorance concerning the timber being reduce already.

“Under normal circumstances the tree cutting does not come under the purview of the forest minister. But in this case where there is a dispute on Mullaperiyar dam for several decades the Government should be aware about what’s happening. The people of Kerala and Tamil Nadu share an excellent camaraderie. We do not wish to hamper that rapport”, added Saseendran.