The Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samiti staged a dharna
in front of the collectorate here on Tuesday, Earth Day, in protest
against the alleged laxity of the government in taking action against
those who had set the forests on fire in the district recently.
Environmentalist
Susan Isaac Kettukapalli, who inaugurated the dharna, said Forest
Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan had visited the sites. He had
stated that the fires were manmade, Dr. Kettukapalli said.
The
government should hand over the case to the Crime Branch for further
investigation. There were attempts to sabotage the case and the
government’s negligence was only helping the culprits, she said. A
report submitted by C.S. Yalakki, Additional Principal Chief Conservator
of Forests (Vigilance) had underrated the catastrophe. Nearly 450
hectares of forestland were destroyed in the fire but Mr. Yalakki had
only mentioned in detail the loss of wood, she said.
All
political and religious groups which had launched agitations against
the K. Kasturirangan panel report on the Western Ghats had a moral
responsibility too. The deep silence of the organisations in this regard
was testimony to their involvement, she said.
The
samiti sought action against illegal sand-mining and granite quarrying
in the district. Samiti president N. Badusha was present.
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