Thiruvananthapuram: more evidence has emerged to prove that the decision to cut the trees in Baby Dam near Mullasiyar was taken after a joint inspection was carried out by officials from the Tamil Nadu government and Kerala Forest officials.
Not only this, after a shared inspection, the Chairperson of the Supervisory Committee has written to the additional Secretary of the Head (Water Resources) on September 3 in this case.
However, the Minister of Forest, K Saseendran continued to claim ignorance of this shared inspection.
“The government does not know such inspections,” he said.
“As was decided at the 14th meeting of the Supervisory Committee, Inspection Joint by officers from the Tamil Nadu government and Kerala Forest officials, from the area under Periyar Tiger Reserve were carried out on June 11, 2021 to identify trees to be cut to allow the Tamil Nadu government to allow Taking the work of the strengthening of the Baby Dam of Mullaseriyar Dam Complex, “said the letter written by the Chairperson of the Supervisory Committee to the Secretary of the Additional Ape Chief.
The letter also clearly stated that Tamil Nadu government officials had provided details of 15 trees identified to be removed located on the downstream dam that had been forwarded to Deputy Director, Periyar Tiger Reserve.
“Also, the proposal to get permission from the Ministry of Forestry Kerala has been submitted online (the attached copy).
I will be grateful if the required direction is issued to the Ministry of Forestry to accelerate permission for tree logging,” said the chief in the letter.
This letter contradicts the statement made by the Minister of Forest in the Assembly that there is no joint inspection carried out by officials of the two state governments in the Mullasiyar Dam.
The government to seek legal opinion: Meanwhile, the government has been seeking legal opinions to find out whether orders that allow Tamil Nadu to cut trees can be removed.
The government only maintains order in delay now.
However, there has been no decision about taking action against officials.
Forest Minister A K Saseendran said there would be actions against those who had acted against the interests of the state and also against government policies.
“Not only NCP, all LDF constituents have been seeking actions against officials for placing the government in the dark in this matter,” he said.
While replying questions in the assembly on Tuesday, Minister of Power K Krishnankutty who answered on behalf of Water Resources Roshy Augustine, said the government was firm at the request that the new dam had to be built in Mullasiyar.