A United Democratic Front (UDF) delegation will visit Munnar on December 6 to inspect the areas that come under the Neelakurinji reserve notification, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala has said.
At a news conference here here on Tuesday, Mr. Chennithala said the UDF delegation would submit its recommendation on how best to thwart the move to reduce the extent of the Neelakurinji reserve area.
The government decision to rework the boundaries of the Neelakurinji reserve in Munnar was intended only to make it an easy target for land-grabbers. “The government is putting at risk the rich biodiversity of the place, which is also a major tourist destination. The UDF delegation will evaluate the situation and suggest necessary steps to protect the sanctuary,” he said.
Mr. Chennithala came down heavily on the government over the ongoing tussle between the CPI(M) and CPI and said the feud had resulted in an administrative paralysis in the State. The two major constituents of the ruling alliance could not see eye to eye on most major issues.
This, he said, was evident in the government stand on such key issues as massive encroachments on government land in places such as Kottakkambur, a key area of Neelakurinji blooms. The Chief Minister, he said, was shielding encroachers and people who held fake land deeds. By protecting persons such as Thomas Chandy, Joice George and P.V. Anvar, all key leaders of the LDF, the government had lost it face before the public, he said.
He alleged that the law and order situation in the State was in total disarray with increasing number of robberies, house breaks, and homicides. The State had witnessed as many as 20 political killings after the LDF government assumed office. Traditional industries such as cashew, coir, and handloom were going through a severe crisis and all the four missions of the LDF government, including ‘ Aardram' and ‘Life’ had proved to be major failures.
“While States such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have adopted several measures to cushion the blow of GST, the government here has taken no step to lessen the hardship of the people,” he said.
‘Padayorukkam,’ his vehicular campaign against the ‘anti-people’ policies of the State and Central governments, will conclude in Thiruvananthapuram on December 1. “It received immense support from the voters. The UDF will be back once again as the strongest front in Kerala,” he said.
