Resentment is brewing among the public against the transfer of District Collector K. Ramachandran who has won people’s support by taking a strong stand against mafias plundering natural resources.
Ever since he had taken charge as the District Collector in August 2013, Mr. Ramachandran had taken a tough stand against the mafias engaged.
It was only two weeks ago, he earned the wrath of illegal brick kiln owners in the district for taking stringent action against them.
They threatened him of using their influence to transfer him out.
In a mass petition to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Janajagratha, a voluntary organisation, said it was the mining mafia that worked behind the transfer of the collector, who remained accessible to everybody in the district.
“He has taken a tough stand against land, clay, sand and quarry mafias in the district. The special squad constituted by him succeeded very much in preventing conversion of paddy land and destruction of hills at Chittur, Anakkara, Mundur, Muthalamada, Kollengode, Kottekkad etc. Social and environmental activists of the district need his presence and timely action in preserving paddy fields and wetlands,’’ said the petition.
‘People’s collector’
According to rights activist P.M. Ravindran, the collector’s transfer would derail the process of ensuring lift irrigation in Attappady to revitalise the farmlands of tribespeople. The collector had also undertaken several welfare measures in Attappady with massive public support, he said. According to environmentalist P.S. Panicker, Mr. Ramachandran was a people’s collector who even led special squads in midnight operations to prevent looting of natural resources.
He had also taken a stern stand against diverting of ration rice to private mills. He became the “high revenue earning collector” in the last fiscal by imposing huge fine on violators of various laws.
A writer, speaker and actor, Mr. Ramachandran had also found time to provide free lectures to tribal students in various schools and colleges in the district.“We hope the government would send him back to Palakkad to complete the initiatives he had undertaken. On completion, he can be taken to any other location. But it is the need of the tribal people and environmental activists in Palakkad,’’ Dr. Panicker said.
Ever since he took charge as the District Collector,
K. Ramachandran had taken a tough stand against the mafia.
