KOCHI: The Kerala State Electricity Board Limited has violated the social forestry rules at Santhivanam by cutting trees without getting the mandatory permission from the district-level expert committee on Social Forestry Department.
“Though Santhivanam is a private land, the KSEBL is carrying out construction works in the area for a public purpose. The high-tension transmission line is for the public hence the area can no longer be considered as private land. Permission from Social Forestry department is mandatory for cutting trees in public land and also for trees to be cut for public purposes,” said Dr. C M Joy, member of the district-level expert committee.
According to him, the KSEB has to compensate for the serious damage caused to the rich biodiversity of Santhivanam and for violating the Social Forestry norms. “The Board should plant more trees in the area and immediately remo-ve the slurry from piling pits,” he added.
Meanwhile, CPI natio-nal secretariat member Binoy Viswam also wanted the construction works at Santhivanam to be stopped immediately. While talking to the media after visiting Santhivanam he sought probe by an expert independent agency. He has sent a letter to the Chief Minister in this regard.
“The future course of action should be taken only after getting the expert committee repo-rt. No one is against the Cherai - Mannam 110 KV line. But why the KSEBL wants the transmission line through the 200-year old forest, even while alternative route is available,” asked Binoy Viswam.
