THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Contrary to the state government's claims, its e-file records show that a file related to felling of trees at Mullaperiyar dam site had reached the water resources department on May 23, months before the controversial order was issued.
The government had maintained that there was no file moved in its departments on the matter. Water resources minister Roshy Augustine also said no meeting was convened on the subject and hence there were no related minutes or records. However, as per the e-records, additional chief secretary (water resources) T K Jose had convened multiple meetings on the matter.
The opposition, meanwhile, criticised chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's silence on the matter, saying the decision could not have been taken without his knowledge. "The decision to cut trees was taken at a meeting held on September 17. This has been accepted by the representative of Kerala in the supervisory committee meeting. This has been communicated to the Supreme Court as well," opposition leader V D Satheesan told reporters on Friday.
"The water resources minister still claims that no such decision has been taken. This shows he is not suitable to continue in his position. It has to be believed that the minister has been kept in the dark by the chief minister and other officials on this issue,’’ he said.
Decision not taken all of a sudden: Min
Power minister K Krishnankutty — who replied on behalf of Roshy Augustine in the assembly last Wednesday — had also said the decision on trees was not taken all of a sudden. He said the SCappointed supervisory committee had in February 2021 decided to conduct a joint examination of the dam site by forest department officials of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The committee chairman also wrote to the additional chief secretary (water resources) on September 3, 2021 that the joint examination had been conducted and 15 trees identified, he said.
Both the e-records and Krishnankutty’s statements have contradicted the claims made by Roshy Augustine, against whom the opposition has moved a breach of privilege notice for misleading the House.
