Mullaperiyar dam issue: Kerala govt revokes controversial tree-felling order

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Wednesday cancelled the order issued by the chief wildlife warden on November 5 approving Tamil Nadu's request to cut 15 trees in the 40 cents of land downstream Mullaperiyar for strengthening the baby dam.

Initiating a damage-control exercise, the Cabinet directed the Principal Secretary (Forest) to cancel the GO issued by the Principal Chief Conservator (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, an official press release said.

"Since the November 5 order issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and the Chief Wildlife Warden was "not legally binding", it was decided by the Cabinet to cancel it," the statement issued by the government read.

The Cabinet also decided to set up a three-tier committee to provide the state government with the necessary views and advice to take quick and accurate decisions on issues related to inter-state river water disputes, the statement added.

Official sources said the government has also decided to take disciplinary action against chief wildlife warden Bennichan Thomas, who allegedly prepared the tree felling order and indicated he may be suspended from service.

The development comes after the Kerala government was under attack from the opposition Congress-led UDF in the State Assembly for its controversial order granting permission to cut the trees.

The opposition had staged a walkout in the assembly earlier on Wednesday over the issue. As the move drew criticism in the state, the Kerala government later froze the order.

Incidentally, on Tuesday, the Tamil Nadu government had released a copy of the "Proceedings of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala", giving an order allowing it to fell 15 trees.

While Tamil Nadu had sought a nod for the removal of 23 trees, permission was granted for clearing 15, which was also later frozen.

The Congress-led UDF welcomed the government move to cancel the tree-felling order, with the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan claiming it was an outcome of their questioning of the state government's decision.

Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over the century-old dam, with the former insisting the reservoir is not safe and wants a new one in its place while its neighbour has been maintaining it was strong.

Tamil Nadu Minister Duraimurugan had said last week that his government wants to carry out strengthening work in a Baby dam and finally raise the water level in the reservoir to 152 feet.