BJP State president Kummanam Rajasekharan has alleged massive graft in the Ponthanpuzha forestland issue.
Calling for a Vigilance investigation into the issue after visiting the area, Mr. Rajasekharan said there was a concerted move from certain quarters to bring 7,000 acres of protected forestland into the hands of a few private persons. A section of the bureaucracy also worked hand in glove with these interest groups, he alleged.
Mr. Rajasekharan wanted to know how the government lost the case in the court. “The Vigilance should investigate this,” he said. He said the BJP would file a review petition in this regard. The land was declared as a protected forest way back in 1905.
Again it was notified as a reserve forest in 1959 under freshly framed rules. Later, the Forest Department too had submitted before the court that the area was a reserved forest, in road widening and granite quarrying cases.
Govt pleader
“However, how come the government took a different undertaking in this particular case alone,” he asked.
He wanted the government to appoint Susheela Bhatt as special government pleader for this case. “She had done good work as a government pleader earlier, especially with regard to various cases connected with forestlands, but was moved out under pressure from lobbyists,” Mr. Rajasekharan alleged. The BJP chief said he would take up the matter with the Central forest and environment authorities also.
