The Hindu : Stop tree felling at Attappady: AGM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Stop tree felling at Attappady: AGM

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI DEC. 27. The Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha (AGM) has warned of launching an agitation against the illegal felling of trees in the Attappady forest belt.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the AGM leaders, C.K. Janu and M. Geethanandan, said they would take legal action if the Government failed to take steps to stop the deforestation of the remaining forest tracts of Attappady. If the present situation continues, the whole of Attappady would become uninhabitable for everyone including the tribal people.

They alleged that the afforestation activities being conducted in the tribal belt through the Attappady Hills Area Development Society (AHADS) were only to hoodwink the tribal people. On the pretext of destroying ganja plantations, the police, AHADS officials and environmentalists were looting the Adivasi hamlets.

They said that tree felling was taking place even in the land belonging to Mudda Mooppan, the head of the Mooppans' Council formed by the Government years ago with a view to exerting control over the tribal people. The AGM leaders said they would cooperate with the CBI inquiry into the Muthanga incidents despite complaints on the treatment meted out to the tribal people during the inquiry.

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