Thiruvananthapuram: The main secretary of the forest Rajesh Kumar Sinha has submitted an explanation to the Minister of Forest A K Saseendran at the trees in the Mullasiyar.
In his report he learned that even though Tamil Nadu had requested permission to cut the tree in September 2020 and he had continued the file for the necessary actions to forest officials, there was no answer given to officials.
He has claimed in a report that he did not give an order to cut the tree.
The Minister of Forest has been seeking an explanation from the forest secretary on orders issued for cutting trees in Mullaseriyar without his knowledge.
He learned that he had denied any role in giving permission to cut down trees in the Baby Dam downstream in Mullasiyar.
Even though he had attended a meeting held to discuss the request made by Nadu Tamil authority, there was no decision taken at the meeting.
He said that he had not even seen the minutes of this meeting.
He also mentioned that all of these meetings were not informed to the Minister of Forest.
However, this explanation was contrary to the report submitted by the Head of Forest Suppier, Warden Bennichan Thomas.
Bennichan in his report submitted to the minister said that the decision to cut trees was taken at a meeting organized by the main secretary, water resources and the main secretary, forests and wildlife.
He said that based on the decision taken at the meeting held by these officials he had issued orders to cut trees.
This order was issued on November 5 and the last meeting to resolve this was held on November 1 at the Office of the Additional Head of Chief, Water Resources, Bennichan said in his report.
The Minister of Forest has claimed that he did not know about these meetings and also decisions taken to cut trees in Mullasiyar to strengthen Baby Dam.