Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday told the Assembly that those who were killed in the forest fire in Kurangani over a week ago were part of a team that trekked on a route “not authorised for trekking”.
Responding to a calling attention motion on the issue, the Chief Minister said no warning was received from the Forest Survey of India (FSI) in connection with the forest fire.
“The last time the fire broke out was on February 15 and it was doused by the Forest Department. If the fire was not extinguished, a warning would have been received from the FSI,” he said while responding to Opposition leader M.K. Stalin and Congress Legislative Party leader K.R. Ramasami.
He said on the ill-fated day, the fire had spread fast because the area was covered by tall lemon grass with oil content.
The contention of Mr. Stalin was that while in other States over 2,000 persons had registered with the FSI to receive warning on fire, in Tamil Nadu, only 250 persons had done so. He alleged that guidelines for trekking were not strictly adhered to and guides were not provided to help the trekking team.
However, Mr. Palaniswami said on March 10, a team of 12 persons from Erode and Tirupur districts had reached Kurangani and received entry passes from the Eco Development Committee on the day itself to visit top station.
“Instead of visiting the area permitted for trekking, they had reached the private tea estate in Kolukkumalai through the Kottakudi reserve forest, traversing 7.1 km. The route is not allowed for trekking,” the CM said.
‘Unauthorised stay’
The passes were given only for a day’s trip and those receiving them could not spend the night in the forest. “But they had spent the night at the estate,” he said.
The Chennai team, comprising 27 members, reached Kurangani on March 10 and reached the private tea estate through the unauthorised route. “According to the district collector, the tea estate has not received any permission to function as a guest house. Of the 27 members, three left for Kerala. Others started trekking in the reserve forest area on March 11 through the unauthorised route. While returning, they were caught in the forest fire,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
The CM added that preliminary inquiry revealed that forester Jayasingh had received information about 12 persons trekking in the unauthorised area but did not act on it. His statement was recorded and he was suspended on March 12.
