Hear State views on report: Chandy

The State will communicate its final stand on the recommendations of the K. Kasturirangan committee on the Western Ghats to the Centre, Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court after the October 21 all-party meeting.

Disclosing this to presspersons after a Cabinet meeting here on Thursday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the State had communicated the preliminary opinion as sought by the Centre and there was no cause for concern.

The Opposition while communicating that they would not participate in the all-party meeting had expressed readiness to give their opinion on the panel report in writing, he said.

Compared to the Madhav Gadgil committee proposals, the recommendations of the Kasturirangan panel were acceptable to the State although there were objectionable points, he said. “We are of the view that the State should be heard before taking action on the Kasturirangan panel report and the impractical recommendations should be withdrawn. We are for conservation,” he said.

The Chief Minister described the new developments as a “first victory for the State as the Centre was deviating from the Madhav Gadgil report.” The government was for implementing the recommendations of the Kasturirangan committee – protecting the environment without causing no difficulties to the people, he said.

On the agitation being launched in the district by the LDF to protest against the reported move of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to turn 60,000 sq km of the Western Ghats into Ecologically Sensitive Area, the Chief Minister said it was misleading and they should withdraw from the stir. All concerned should join hands on the issue.

Council plan

Idukki Correspondent adds: The All-Party Coordination Agitation Council on Thursday said it would meet the Chief Minister before an all-party meeting called by him on October 21 to discuss the implementation of the Kasturirangan committee report. Chairman Roy K. Poulose, Idukki DCC president, said he had taken up the “anti-farmer recommendations” with the Chief Minister.