THODUPUZHA: The CPM district conference criticised the work of ministers Roshi Augustine and M.B. Rajesh. Minister M.B. Rajesh is focusing on other departments rather than the local government department, which deals with the common people. The local government department is poorly managed. The minister is focusing more on the excise department.
Minister Roshi Augustine is not involved in the problems of Idukki district properly. He is not effectively handling the issues that are being defended by the party and government. Some representatives opined that the reason for such a big defeat was the fact that Joyce George was made a candidate in Idukki in the Lok Sabha elections.
The activity report presented by District Secretary C.V. Varghese is highly critical of the forest and revenue departments. The revenue department is constantly interfering with the people living in hillsides through anti-people orders like construction bans. The failure to formulate a policy even after months of the Land Assignment Amendment Act being passed is due to the Revenue Department's incompetence. It also failed to convince the Supreme Court on the CSR issue.
The Forest Department has completely failed to prevent human-wildlife conflict. Despite the constant killing of people in elephant attacks, including in the Munnar range, it has not been able to effectively prevent it. The Forest Department is unable to correct its officials or implement the policies of the state government. The representatives all criticised the lack of caution in issuing the draft notification of the Forest Act Amendment Bill. The Chief Minister said that the mergers in the plantation areas would be renovated in the wake of the Pettimudi disaster, but it has not been implemented even after years.
Representatives from the Munnar and Peerumedu area committees were criticised. The District Secretary's work report also states that there is severe factionalism in the Peerumedu, Moolamattom, and Nedumkandam area committees.
C.V. Varghese is likely to continue as the District Secretary. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the public meeting tomorrow at 5 pm at the old bus stand in Gandhi Square.