Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has canceled an order allowing Tamil Nadu to cut down trees ahead of strengthening the Baby Dam at Mullaperiyar. The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting. State Forest Department Chief Wildlife Warden Bennichan Thomas has been suspended from service following an order last Friday to cut down 15 trees in the area to strengthen the Baby Dam. The action is based on reports of a fall at the official level.
The Principal Secretary, Forest Department has been directed to cancel the order issued to cut down 15 trees, shrubs and saplings on the leased land adjacent to the Mullaperiyar Baby Dam. In the application submitted by Kambam Executive Engineer, Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department, the permission to cut down the trees was issued without obtaining the clearance as defined by the Central Rules.
In his reply to the writ petition filed in the Kerala Supreme Court on January 22, 2021, the affidavit stated that the permission of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the Standing Committee of the National Wildlife Board was required to allow logging.
The Rules of Business of the Government of Kerala stipulates that a matter affecting inter-state relations must be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration before taking a decision. The government said the decision to cancel the order, which was issued without the required central approval and without the permission of the state government, was non-existent.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan intervened and froze the order. The cabinet assessed that the crucial issue was that the officials did not consult with the government and the order did not consider the interest of the state. The meeting also ruled that the order was against the Central Forest and Environment Act. The information came out when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday congratulating the Kerala government for issuing the order.
English Summary: Mullaperiyar Baby Dam tree felling order revoked
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