The Hindu : Kerala News : UDF walkout over ‘collusion’ in tree felling despite Court orders

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Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007
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Kerala

UDF walkout over ‘collusion’ in tree felling despite Court orders

Special Correspondent

Between government and owners of plantation

Congress MLA seeks leave for adjournment
Minister denies Opposition’s allegations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) members staged a walkout in the Assembly on Tuesday alleging collusion between the government and owners of Harrison Malayalam Plantations Limited for felling trees in estates spread over nearly 25,000 acres (10,000 hectares) in violation of Court orders.

The Opposition accused the government of having failed to protect the State’s interests and allowed the estate owners to cut down trees despite being aware of a High Court stay on any such action. Announcing the walkout, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy demanded an inquiry into what he termed collusion between the Forest Department and the estate owners in the matter.

Earlier, opposing the adjournment motion, Forest Minister Benoy Viswom said the government had taken the necessary steps immediately on learning about violation of lease provisions by the estate. The Forest Department had issued notice on November 3, 2006 to the estate owners asking them to pay a fine of Rs.98.64 lakh for violation of the conditions of lease at their Palappally Estate in Thrissur. Another notice was served on them on July 7 last for lease norm violation at their estate at Aruvappalam in Konni. The government was holding a comprehensive inquiry into the issue and there was no question of compromising with those who try to grab government land or violate lease norms, Mr. Viswam said.

In High Court

Seeking leave for the adjournment motion, V. D. Satheesan (Congress) alleged that the owners of the estate had cut down trees in 10,000 hectares and indulged in lease norm violation by sub-leasing the land for cultivation of banana and pineapple. The matter had gone to the High Court in the form of a public interest petition and the Court had ordered on March 16 last that no tree should be cut in the plantation area.

He said although the Court asked the government six times to file the counter-affidavit in the case, the government did not respond. Senior government pleader Anil Kumar, who used to handle the case, had also requested the government several times to comply with the Court directive, but to no avail. On May 22 last, petitioner in the case K.V. Johny from Thrissur submitted memorandums to the Chief Minister and the Forest Minister seeking their intervention in the matter. The government pleader was replaced and the Forest Department allowed the estate owners to remove the felled trees paying the ‘seignorage.’

The Minister accused the UDF of adopting ‘mean’ political strategies to make it appear that the government was colluding with people who were grabbing government land as had happened with the Merchiston Estate and indulging in poaching. Mr. Chandy asked the Minister whether he would table the letter written to him by the government pleader. He also alleged that instead of filing an appeal against the High Court decision, what the government had done was to file a clarification petition.

The Minister said the High Court had posted the case for hearing on September 29.

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