The Hindu : Kerala News : Minister inspects illegal tree felling at Jeerakappara

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Minister inspects illegal tree felling at Jeerakappara

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE, SEPT. 13. The Forest Minister, K. P.Viswanathan, today visited Jeerakappara, near Tusharagiri, for an on-the-spot study of the issues concerning alleged illegal tree felling in the notified forest lands coming under the jurisdiction of the Thamarassery Range of the Forest Department.

Accompanied by forest and police officials and local Congress leaders and elected representatives, Mr. Viswanathan visited several spots where illegal felling had taken place, probably in the first week of September.

The Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, had asked the Minister to visit Jeerakappara after the Leader of the Opposition, V. S. Achuthanandan, visited the forests last week. His visit was in response to allegations of largescale felling of trees which appeared in a section of the media.

Stringent action

At a news conference, the Minister admitted that illegal felling had taken place in the ecological fragile land. He said stringent action would be taken against those involved in the looting of forest wealth and encroachments.

Cases would be registered against the present owners of the land who, he said, had instigated the workers to cut the trees.

Action would also be initiated against errant forest officials if conclusive evidence of their lapses was found. An outpost comprising forest officials would be put up at Jeerakappara as part of measures to prevent such encroachments, Mr. Viswanathan said. He added that the felling had taken place before he took over as Forest Minister. While maintaining that the Forest Department would not want to disturb the existing farming system at Jeerakappara, the Minister said the land would continue to be used for agriculture purposes.

However, the department would maintain status quo till the President, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, gave his assent to the Ecologically Fragile Land Ordinance, 2000. He said that in case the forest lands were to be allotted to private parties, the State Government would be keen to take over them after giving compensation.

Ordinance

The State Government had in 2000 promulgated an Ordinance declaring Jeerakappara as notified forest land. Even that Government and the successive Governments missed the opportunity to take over the forest area.

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