Tamil Nadu’s application to cut down trees below the Mullaperiyar Baby Dam is still pending before the Supreme Court. No decision has been made. It is learned that the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment has not issued any order.
The Supreme Court had in 2006 and 14 years agreed with the measures taken to strengthen the dam. In 2017, Tamil Nadu argued that 23 trees should be cut down for this. Though a notice was sent to Kerala, the case was not considered later.
Kerala responded by justifying the denial of permission to cut down trees. He said that he was not against strengthening the dam and that it was a matter within the purview of the Forest, Environment and Wildlife Conservation Act.
Last year, the Tamil Nadu government had pointed out that the case has been pending in the court since then. He was responding to a petition filed by Joe Joseph, a native of Kothamangalam.
He said that he was not against strengthening the dam and that it was a matter within the purview of the Forest, Environment and Wildlife Conservation Act. Last year, the Tamil Nadu government had pointed out that the case has been pending in the court since then. He was responding to a petition filed by Joe Joseph, a native of Kothamangalam.
However, the oversight committee, comprising members from Kerala and Tamil Nadu and a representative from the Central Water Commission, had suggested that logging be allowed as a means of strengthening the dam.
Prior to this, it was recommended that Tamil Nadu and Kerala conduct a joint site inspection. However, permission from the Union Ministry of Environment is required as the area is within the limits of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
The decision is usually taken by the Ministry of Environment only after scrutiny and recommendation by the Central and State Wildlife Boards. According to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, this has not happened.
Government confused over action against IAS-IFS officers over controversial order. It is doubtful whether strict action or a warning is sufficient.
Chief Wildlife Warden Bennichan Thomas, who issued the order, said that Minister AK Sasindran told the media. However, Water Resources Additional Chief Secretary T.K. Benichan Thomas said the order was based on a decision made at a meeting attended by Jose.
TK Jose is also the only representative of Kerala in the Mullaperiyar Oversight Committee appointed by the Supreme Court. The order was issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden with the knowledge of Forest Principal Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha. In this case, only action against one officer. The government thinks that taking action will cause controversy. Officers only
The inability to move forward at a cost and how to overcome the opposition’s accusation that the elites are involved are steps before the government.
In an affidavit filed in the Kerala Supreme Court, Kerala has demanded that the rule curve that the water level in the Mullaperiyar be raised to 142 feet be reconsidered.
Kerala-Tamil Nadu officials joint in connection with logging in Mullaperiyar
It was also reported that the inspection was carried out. The forest minister had said in the assembly yesterday that no official level inspection had been carried out. The Forest Minister wrote to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to correct the statement.
Tamil Nadu gets permission to cut down 15 trees below Mullaperiyar Baby Dam
The government has decided to postpone the issuance of Chief Wildlife Warden Bennichan Thomas’ controversial order without further action instead of freezing it. The plan is to cancel the order after examining the documents.
To order controversy the government has asked the Additional Chief Secretary for Water Resources and the Principal Secretary for Forests to clarify the situation. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has not yet commented on the matter.
According to the government, the decision was taken only at the official level without the permission of the Chief Minister, Forest and Water Resources Ministers. The move is to take stern action against 3 officials who committed serious misconduct. It is learned that the decision of the Chief Minister will be taken today.
Forest Principal Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha on Sunday night ordered the postponement of the order issued by Bennichan Thomas without further action. Minister AK Sasindran told the media at the time that he had decided to freeze the order, but the decision was changed after consultations.
According to the Principal Secretary’s order, the case regarding the Mullaperiyar Dam is being considered by the Supreme Court and Kerala has given an affidavit. Permission from the Union Ministry of Environment and the Central Wildlife Board Standing Committee is required to cut down trees in the vicinity of the dam located at the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
The Principal Secretary explained that the Chief Wildlife Warden had issued an order granting permission to cut down the trees and that the order was being postponed as it was not clear whether these permits had been obtained or not. The order was also handed over to the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Executive Engineer.
Can’t believe the claim of not knowing: Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Minister S. Duraimurugan said it was difficult to believe the allegation that the official had issued the order without the knowledge of the Chief Minister and the ministers. What kind of governance is going on in Kerala if the order was issued without knowledge? He also said that there will be no clash with Kerala over this.
