THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The union Environment Ministry has taken ‘serious note’ of the large
scale encroachments in the Idukki forests.
An official
communication received in the forest ministry here has asked the state
government to take urgent steps to stem the attack on the remaining
forests. “The ministry has taken serious note of media reports on
the illegal clearing of the ecologically sensitive forests and encroachments
by ganja cultivators. Most shocking is the allegations that mansions
have been erected in forests and heavy machinery has been used to build
roads into the forests”, observed S.C.Sharma, director general of
forests and wildlife.
The official
has drawn Kerala’s attention to Supreme Court’s recent blanket ban
on tree felling in Andaman And Nicobar isles owing to environment impact
“ The ministry is extremely worried at denudation of forests and expects
the state to take all steps to prevent using forests for non-forest
purposes”.
Meanwhile,
the BJP state leaders have demanded prosecution of all the revenue officials
involved in the forest encroahments in the Iddukki district.
Revenue
Minister K.M.Mani, who stands in the dock for his alleged patronage
of encroachers, had ordered shifting of the collector and over 100 revenue
officials for their complicity in the forest encroachments.
The BJP
leaders P.P.Mukundan and Raman Pillai said soft options of shifting
officials should be given up and the officials be arraigned for their
role in denuding the hills that belongs to the nation.
|