The high-level panel to examine Tamil Nadu Preservation of Private Forests Act, 1949 held meeting with the officials of the district as well as the officials of forest department here on Friday apart from receiving petitions from the affected persons.
The meeting was presided over by the Chairman and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Vinodh Kumar.
According to sources, the Forest Minister, K. T. Pachaimal while moving the demand for grant of the Forest Department for 2012-13 in the Assembly had announced that the Government would constitute a high-level committee to visit this district on November 2. A long queue of those, who had come to submit petitions to the panel, was seen in front of Nanjil hall within the Collectorate.
The high-level panel had also discussed with the petitioners regarding existing notification areas, permission for felling trees planted by the patta holders, permission for sale, lease etc. under the provision of Tamil Nadu Preservation of Private Forest Acts.
Later speaking to the presspersons he said that the Government was very keen to ensure the welfare of the affected people living in the forest and the surrounding areas to ensure their livelihood. Not even a single person should be affected by the implementation of this Act, said Vinodh Kumar.
While speaking, the Collector, S. Nagarajan, said that based on the suggestions made by the then collectors of the district in the years 1979, 1980, 1982 and 2002, the Act had been implemented. As many as 2625.925 hectares in Thovalai taluk, 5882.06.7 hectare in Kalkulam taluk, 2875.22.5 hectares in Vilavavancode taluk had been brought under the Act. As many as 1757 petitions were received in the meeting and their grievances would be brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, the Collector said.
The District Forest Officer, Ritto Cyriac, Sub-collector Shankar Lal Kumawath, Revenue Divisional Officer of Padmanabhapuram division Mohana Chandran, MLA of Padmanabhapuram Assembly segment Puspha Leela Alben, former member of Lok Sabha A. V. Bellarmine, former MLA Leema Rose attended the meeting.
