Records show ex-Minister's hand in controversial tree felling order in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The records on the details of the controversial felling of trees in Kerala have been exposed, revealing that former revenue minister E. Chandrashekharan had issued orders for the felling of trees in Wayanad and other parts.

According to the records exposed, the then revenue minister had issued a note on October 5, 2020, for the order that led to a major controversy in Kerala over the felling of trees that are considered protected according to the Forest Act.

The order, issued under the direct instruction of, and signed by the minister, clarified that no permission was required to cut these four species. The order also revealed that the minister had instructed action against officials who prevented the felling of trees.

Meanwhile, Chandrasekharan had earlier said that the decision to issue an order to cut the trees was done after examining all the aspects and he stands firm with his decision.

Chandrasekharan said the order was issued on his instructions. Permission was granted to cut down trees except for sandalwood planted by farmers. He had also dismissed the propaganda that all trees were allowed to be cut down.

The law prohibits the felling of royal trees such as sandalwood, rosewood, teakwood, and ebony. The minister in his note and subsequent order issued had stated that no permission was required to fall these trees and cut them.

According to the records, the minister had convened a meeting of the farmers of the Kattambuzha forest area on June 27, 2019, after they had requested permission to fell the trees that they had planted.

In the meeting convened by the minister, the forest department opposed the felling of trees and pointed out that the right was sole with the government. After the opposition of the forest department, the revenue department's opinion was sought on the views of the revenue department.

In the second meeting held on September 3, 2019, the forest department strongly opposed the move to cut the trees of the four species, Sandalwood, rosewood, teak wood and ebony. The meeting had then decided to amend the Kerala government's Land Assignment Act, 1964 and to allow the felling of trees that the farmers had planted and grown after they had received the title deeds of the land.

'The minister intervened at this juncture and according to the records available 'issued a special order' and according to the opposition had pressured the revenue secretary to issue the order without even consulting and getting it vetted by the law department which was the normal procedure.

The state government is now facing this major controversy of felling the royal trees, including rosewood and ebony from the revenue land and even from the forest land, and trees worth more than Rs 150 crores were felled based on this order.

Former Minister, E. Chandrashekharan was not available for comments even after repeated queries.