Tamil Nadu and Kerala face off over stability of century-old structure
Kochi:
The Kerala government on Sunday stayed the forest department’s order allowing Tamil Nadu to cut down 15 trees under the Baby Dam in the Mullaperiyar reservoir, a day after the neighboring state’s chief minister officials issued it. decided to take action against MK Stalin thanked his counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan for the decision.
Forest Minister AK Saseendran told the media that the order was an ‘unusual’ and a serious lapse on the part of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and the Chief Wildlife Warden, who issued the order. The minister had said earlier in the day that the order was passed without the knowledge of his office, or the irrigation minister or the chief minister’s office. MK Stalin on Saturday thanked Vijayan for “allowing” the felling of 15 trees under the Baby Dam in the Mullaperiyar reservoir and said he was informed by his officials of the Water Resources Department that Kerala’s Forest Department Necessary permission was given by the department.
“There was a serious lapse on the part of the Chief Conservator of Forests. The said order has been stayed. It was due to lapse on the part of the officials and we have decided to take further action in this regard. In any circumstances, such Important decisions cannot be taken at the bureaucratic level. This is an unusual order. We will investigate the issuance of such orders and take necessary action.”
In his message expressing gratitude, Mr Stalin reiterated Tamil Nadu’s commitment to “take all necessary steps to further strengthen the Mullaperiyar Dam” and ensure the safety of people living downstream in Kerala.
However, this became a controversy in Kerala as the state’s demand was for a new dam at Mullaperiyar and not for strengthening the Baby Dam.
Opposition Congress and BJP demanded withdrawal of the order and attacked the state government.
KPCC chief K Sudhakaran alleged that the order was issued in the knowledge of the Chief Minister and demanded the resignation of the Forest Minister besides a judicial inquiry.
“It is unbelievable that the order was issued without the knowledge of the state government. We demand a judicial inquiry into the matter. We have all the details regarding this matter,” Sudhakaran said.
The Congress chief said many decisions were being taken without the knowledge of the minister concerned and sought his resignation.
Meanwhile, former minister and UDF MLA PJ Joseph said that it is unbelievable that such an order has been issued by a bureaucrat. “Then the Minister has no right to continue in that post. The said order should be withdrawn.”
BJP state chief K Surendran also came out against the order and said that the state government plans to make officials as scapegoats in the matter.
Surendran alleged, “The chief minister and Sashindran are fooling the people of the state. They were aware of the order.”
Amid the ongoing standoff with Kerala over the Mullaperiyar dam issue, Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department minister Duraimurugan had on Friday said that the water level in the reservoir would be raised to 152 feet after strengthening the Baby Dam.
The two states are at loggerheads over the stability of the age-old structure, with Kerala insisting it was not strong and Tamil Nadu saying it is not.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
.