Idukki / Thiruvananthapuram: After the document in the public domain clarified that the Kerala Government was in Cahoots with the Nadu Tamil government to cut trees on the Mullasyar Dam site, the LDF regime quickly suspended the head of Wildlife Wildlife Bennichen to issue a controversial order.
However, two letters (accessed by TOI) from the Secretary of the Main Forest Head for four senior forest officials who are looking for permits needed for tree logging near Baby Dam revealed that Bennichen might be a scapegoat and he only acted on orders of higher people in the hierarchy .
The first letter, October 19, 2020, handled the principal’s head and head of forestry, head of the Head of Forest (Wildlife) and Wildlife Warden Head, Principal of Forest Conservator (Forest Management) and Deputy Director of Periyar Tiger Reserve – with Subjects: ‘Department of Forest and wildlife; Strengthening Baby Dam, removal of bushes and tree logging in and about the Mullai Periyar Dam, Baby Dam, needs requested permissions’ – asking them to take action and complete an action taken.
Letter for the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department, September 3, 2020, is reference to.
Letter from the Secretary of the Head of Forest stated: “I to continue with this copy of the letter mentioned above and to ask you to take action in connection with the verdict of the Dear Supreme Court, the existing rules and government instructions in this matter and complement detailed actions to take a report to the government Immediately.
“After nine months, the main secretary of the forest again sent a letter to the same official and looked for detailed reports taken.
This letter, which mentions the previous letter on October 19, 2020, stated: “I invite your attention to the reference quoted and ask you to complete the detailed actions taken to in it immediately.
The copy of the reference quoted is issued with this for ready reference.” Meanwhile, the Forest Minister Saseendran Kasikan continued to claim that he was not aware of these developments.
Seasendran was reportedly annoyed that the main secretary of the forest together with other officials made it dark about orders issued in cutting trees in Mullasiyar.
The minister himself, and his party NCP, had been seeking actions against the forest department officials.
NCP State President P C Chacko said he had asked the Minister of Chief to take strict action on officials.
“The sequence has been issued without the knowledge of the Minister of Forest, which means that serious disciplinary actions must be taken against officials.
When it comes to interstate issues, ministers and the government must make a decision, not officials,” said Chacko.
“Letters of the main forest secretary revealed That the Head of Wardlife Warden issued a tree logging after pressure from the upper level, “said Environmental Environment Mn Jayachandan.” It should be noted that Bennichen Thomas has denied permission to cut trees near the Baby Dam area before when he deputy director, Periyar Tiger Reserve.
New tree logging orders show that some people use this official as a tool to apply their agenda, “Jayachandran added.