Thiruvananthapuram: The order to fall trees from around Baby Dam in Mullaseriyar, which becomes controversial that leads to the investigation of suspension and department, is issued with clear knowledge and opening of the main secretary (water resources) and the main secretary (forest and wildlife.), If the officer Bennichan Thomas stated before the government.
In the written statement before the authority asked this issue (accessed by TOI), Thomas, the demands on November 5 last year allowed Tamil Nadu to strengthen the baby dam made stir, said that the decision to issue orders was taken at the meeting held by the Head Secretary ( Water resources) Additional TK Jose.
“In a meeting conducted at the office of the Secretary of the Additional Head (Water Resources) on September 15, last year, where the main secretary (finance) and Head of Warden Warden were present, a consensus had arrived to process permission to cut down 15 trees Identified, “he said.
The meeting was held to discuss the logging of trees, repairing Jalan Ghat from Jalan Approach Vallakkadavu to the Multaperiyar Dam site, Plying Bajar Boat in Lake Periyar and Royalty Destruction and Royalty Allegations produced from Multaperiyar Dams.
“The order was issued by me in legal requirements after consultation because of the level of the main secretary, forests and the Department of Wildlife and the Additional Head of Secretary (Department of Water Resources).
The command is communicated to the Secretary of the Additional Head (Water Resources) and the Main Secretary (forest and forest Wildlife) via email and special envoys on the same day (November 5, 2021) itself, “he said.
Furthermore said that the order was just a prerequisite for a long process that the application of Tamil Nadu falls tree must go through, before the request was given.
He said that Tamil Nadu’s request for 23 trees in 0.25 hectares was only downstream Multaperiyar Dam was awaiting permission since January 1, 2019, and needed to be processed at the level of division, circles, regional offices, regional offices and the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change (Moefcc).
“Orders on November 5, 2021, from the Head of Wildlife Warden can be considered only as a prerequisite for permission from the authority of the legislation at all of these levels,” he said.
He further said that he did not give permission to eliminate forest products from around the baby dam or from around the earth dam.
The government has quoted that the order allows Tamil Nadu to cut 15 trees from Baby Dam in Mullasiyar regarding the interstate issue and issued without consultation at the ministerial level.
The government also observed that the order was contrary to the holder taken by the state government in cases of the problem of the Mullasiyar dam with the consideration of the Supreme Court.
The government then concluded that the action of Thomas Prima Facie totaled official violations and violations of all Indian service behavior regulations, 1968.
He was then placed under the suspension under the three rules of the All India (discipline and appeal), 1969.
Then the government was revoked, but it would be forward with disciplinary action against it.