Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M] State unit secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has distanced himself from the statement made by the Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan in support of the Gadgil committee report on the Western Ghats.
Speaking to the media at Koyilandy here on Wednesday, Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Achuthanandan could have made such a statement out of some misunderstanding. Both the Madhav Gadgil committee report and the K. Kasturirangan committee recommendations should be rejected, he said.
The government should form a new committee, including environmentalists, scientists and professionals from different fields, and come out with a fresh report on the Western Ghats. Only a report that ensured the protection and livelihood of the people in the hill regions should be implemented.
Mr. Vijayan said forming a regulatory authority in the State to give environment clearance would be more disastrous at this stage.
