Tree felling order in Mullaperiyar: Top officials knew everything; evidences surfacing put govt in a tight spot

THIRUVANANTHPAURAM: More evidences that are surfacing show that top officials were aware of the order given to fell trees in the vicinity of the baby dam in Mullaperiyar. This was stated in the letter to the forest department by chief wildlife warden Bennichan Thomas that the order to axe trees was issued on the instructions of top officials. The letter was released by a private channel. The letter stated that the additional secretary of the water resources department convened a meet thrice. It was also directed to expedite the permission to cut the trees. Bennichan Thomas mentioned in the letter that centre’s permission is not required to axe the trees.

When the order stoked a controversy, the government blamed the officials. Bennichen Thomas, the officer who issued the order, was suspended along with the revocation of the order for tree felling. In the order, the government stated that the suspension was found to be a breach of official duty.

Documents showed that file work in tree felling started five months ago. According to government documents, the file reached water resources department on May 23. There was a lot of discussion about this file. The documents surfaced when the departmental ministers repeatedly said that they were not aware of anything.