The latest developments in the Mullaperiyar issue, which has been plaguing Kerala for decades, have brought disgrace not only to the government but also to the people. It is unthinkable that the government itself has come forward with a decision that would undermine Kerala's stand for a new dam to replace the obsolete one at Mullaperiyar. It is reported that the Chief Forest Officer of the Forest Department has unknowingly issued an order giving permission to cut down fifteen big trees to strengthen the Baby Dam which is part of the main dam. The conspiracy and conspiracy behind the issuance of the controversial order without the knowledge of the Minister of Forests or the Minister of Water Resources in charge of the dam can only be uncovered by a simple investigation. The Forest Minister said he had asked Chief Forest Conservator Bennichan Thomas for an explanation. A high-level meeting of the Forest and Water Resources Departments on November 1 decided to allow Tamil Nadu to cut down large trees near the Baby Dam and issued an order in this regard on Nov 6. Anyone with common sense would not believe that such a serious matter was not known to the ministers or the Chief Minister. If the explanation is that the officials hid the information from the administration, those who acted behind the controversial order should be expelled soon after. The minister should know what to do with those who have made a serious mistake without telling anyone. It remains to be seen whether stern action will be taken against those who lied.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. It was only when Stalin's message was published in the media that the state government realized the seriousness of the issue. No government will be ashamed of this. When there is a systemically powerful government, it is unheard of for officials to take over. Even the children here know the policy and approach of Kerala on the Mullaperiyar issue. It is unforgivable that the moves from the top to the bottom, which have completely killed it and self-defeated the state's arguments in the Supreme Court case. This is the latest example of the blatant conspiracies and scams perpetrated by top officials in the Mullaperiyar issue from the very beginning. The Mullaperiyar Agreement, which came into force during the British rule, came into effect when Kerala was formed. Had that strong legal action been taken, it would not have become such a painful issue to this day. The most obvious thing is that there are enough people here to do all the work for Tamil Nadu.

The question remains as to whether the reports of trees being cut down near the Mullaperiyar Baby Dam in Tamil Nadu, which had been obtained via a verbal order even before the formal order was issued, are true. With the Mullaperiyar case set to be reconsidered by the Supreme Court on November 11, there is no doubt that the current developments will further weaken Kerala's position. Even then, the bureaucrats and politicians who set the stage for this may be sitting away and laughing.