THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister AK Saseendran has said that Tamil Nadu may have started cutting down trees downstream of ​​the Baby Dam at Mullaperiyar.

"The news report that Tamil Nadu has started cutting down trees might be true. I need not know that. They will cut down the trees," the minister responded. When asked whether he will issue an order to stop the felling of trees, the minister said that he will have to first study why the permission was granted.

Saseendran also publicly expressed his unhappiness over the permission given to cut the trees without his knowledge. "Decisions should not be made at the official level alone. It is something that involves policy issues. Neither I nor the Chief Minister's Office nor the Minister of Water Resources knew about it. The officials should explain the circumstances under which the decision was made," he said. The minister has also sought a report regarding the matter. The minister learnt about the permission granted to fell trees only after receiving a letter from Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin thanking Kerala for the permission.