Kerala: Opposition leader VD Satheesan seeks judicial probe in illegal tree felling

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader VD Satheesan sought a judicial probe in the illegal tree felling controversy. A mafia is responsible for this controversial order and only a judicial probe can bring out the people behind this, he said.
The chief minister is saying that the order was issued with good intent. This indicates that he is protecting the people who played to get such a controversial order. In eight districts looting of forest wealth has happened and a big mafia played a crucial role in this, he added.
Satheesan said he has doubts whether the CM was aware of the decision taken by two ministers and two departments. It is also strange that the cabinet or LDF weren’t aware of the revenue department order, he said.
The new order was issued by twisting the existing orders and covering up several crucial rules and regulations. Forest and revenue ministers are cheating people by claiming that such an order was issued to help farmers. The order was issued to help the forest mafia, he claimed.
Now, when the issue has become a controversy, both forest and revenue departments are running away from their responsibility. The trees in pattaya land is state owned. The custodian of such trees is revenue department. The data bank of these trees have to be kept at the concerned village offices. If illegal tree felling is noticed, then the respective tahsildar or village officer should file a complaint. After massive tree felling, not a single complaint was filed, said Satheesan. Only the collector of Wayanad raised a complaint. In other districts a nexus between forest, revenue and LDF leaders covered up all complaints raised against tree felling, he alleged.