Kerala forest minister admits to failure in Muttil illegal tree felling

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Admitting failure in Muttil illegal tree felling case, forest minister A K Saseendran said that action has been taken against the concerned officials. The officials at checkposts failed to perform their duty effectively and they were suspended. The department plans more action in this case, said the minister.
A comprehensive inquiry is in progress and the department is evaluating the need for more action against officials. In addition to the measures taken, the department is also assessing the need for amending the existing rules and regulations. The minister said that the forest department has not issued any order in connection with the illegal tree felling case.
He also said that there is no dispute with the revenue department and all measures were taken after proper discussions between the departments. No decision was taken without discussing with the revenue department in the case, the minister replied to a question raised by the opposition.
However, the opposition boycotted the question hour in the assembly since the government was not ready to conduct a judicial probe into the illegal tree felling. The opposition members alleged that a major looting was done under the shield of a government order, issued by the revenue principal secretary last year, allowing farmers to fell all categories of trees, except sandalwood, from their land having title deeds. It was suspected that even the order was issued to facilitate illegal felling of rosewood trees. They alleged that the government did not take action against the real culprits.
Opposition leader V D Satheeshan said Muttil tree felling is the state’s biggest forest smuggling in recent history. The government is trying to shield someone. He asked how smugglers could ferry timber worth crores of rupees from the northern district to a sawmill at Perumbavoor in Ernakulam amidst the pandemic-induced curbs without the support of the authorities. So far, 40 cases have been registered in connection with tree felling and no one was arrested yet.