THIRUVANANTHAPRUAM: CPI leader and former forest minister Binoy Viswam has said that Cabinet subcommittee to study Kurinji sanctuary issue had no powers to alter or influence decisions taken by Settlement Officer. He said though a democratically elected government has to settle the issue positively, the powers to examine land document and claims were vested only with the Settlement Officer who is the legal entity. He is the legal custodian of the land. Neither the Cabinet nor government can bypass him,” he said. Viswam criticised the move to redraw the boundary of sanctuary.
"It is illegal. As per section 26 of Wildlife Protection Act 1972, neither the subcommittee nor the Cabinet had the right to re-demarcate the boundary of a national sanctuary," he said. The former minister said anyone with valid title deed was free to approach the Settlement Officer (Devikulam Sub-collector) to keep his land out of the sanctuary. Viswam said they were sabotaging the hearing meant for examining the documents in the name of tribals and poor. “The encroachers have no valid documents or pattas. They want to convert government land in their name. Such forces are accusing the revenue department of ousting adivasis and poor,” he said. The former minister said every time neelakurinji bloomed after 12 years, one found the extent of land getting reduced considerably."
While declaring Neelakurinji sanctuary in2006 our main intention was not only to protect neelakurinji flower but also the land from encroachers forever," he said. Viswam said no Gandhian, no Marxist, no communist and no Bharatiyavadi could support encroachment. "I trust what the chief minister has said about the sanctuary. I am hopeful that the LDF government will do whatever it takes to protect the sanctuary," he said. The CPI leader said Marxist philosophy had a clear view on environment. “It is mine as well as Mr M M Mani’s duty to learn from the Marxist position. It is applicable to everyone who claims to be a Marxist,” he added.
