The CPI moving the National Green Tribunal (NGT) (South Zone) with an independent petition, seeking removal of all illegal constructions and encroachments in Munnar, will only strengthen the Left Democratic Front Government’s ongoing mission to protect the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats, party State secretary Kanam Rajendran has said.
Talking to The Hindu , Mr. Rajendran said the CPI State executive had initially thought of impleading in the case registered suo motu by the NGT three months ago. But, the decision to file a separate case before the NGT came in the wake of a legal opinion citing chances of questioning even the tribunal’s right to initiate suo motu proceedings in the coming months.
The CPI has designated its State executive member P. Prasad who is in charge of the party unit in Idukki to take up the Munnar issue with the NGT. Mr. Rajendran said the CPI had taken a similar stand during the anti-airport agitation in Aranmula too, earlier.
According to him, the petition filed by Mr. Prasad has pointed out the necessity to implement various laws passed by the Assembly in Munnar. It also mentioned various reports prepared by the government and the stand taken on them by the State in Idukki.
Mr. Rajendran said the CPI plea was to execute the recommendations in those reports with out any delay and hence it could not be treated as against the government.
Mr. Rajendran said the CPI was not the first to move the NGT in connection with the Munnar issue. The Idukki unit of the Karshaka Sanghom attached to the CPI(M) was the first to implead in the case followed by BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan, Rajeev Chandrashekhara, MP, and a host of resort owners, he said.
Mr. Rajendran said the very aim of the petition filed by the CPI State executive member was to reaffirm the party’s pro-people stand on the Munnar issue.
Though headed by CPI Ministers, the Revenue Department and the Forest Department had their own stances in governance whereas the party’s stand was purely based on its declared policies, he said. If a village officer committed a mistake, the CPI could not be made answerable for that, he added.
Mr. Rajendran said the Revenue Department had to file a detailed report before the NGT on what action it had taken and what it proposes to do in connection with the alleged illegal encroachments in Munnar as well as the Kurinjimala Sanctuary in a time-bound manner.
