NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Environment and Forest Bhupender Yadav harshly criticized the state government for the Wayanad landslides. He alleged that the illegal human habitation in Wayanad led to the major disaster. He was responding to news agency ANI when asked whether the disaster in Wayanad was a man-made disaster.

The local politicians in Wayanad provide illegal protection to the illegal human habitation. Even in the name of tourism, they are not making proper zones. They did not allow land to be classified into precise zones as eco-sensitive areas in the name of tourism. They gave permission to encroach on the area. The landslide area is an extremely ecologically sensitive area.

The central government had formed a committee under the leadership of former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar. This is a mistake on the part of the state government. Illegal human settlements and illegal mining were going on there under the protection of the local government. This is very shameful. The state government should provide protection to nature and man.