Kerala tree felling: Former Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan says order was passed in good faith but was misused
In the wake of the revelation that a lot of timber had been reduce down following the Revenue Department order, Chandrasekharan mentioned that after it got here to the discover that the orders had been misused, they was withdrawn
Former Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan mentioned on Friday that the division had issued an order permitting chopping of reserved timber, besides sandalwood, by the homeowners in patta (personal) land in good faith. However, it was misinterpreted and misused, he mentioned.
In the wake of the revelation that a lot of timber had been reduce down following the Revenue Department order, Mr. Chandrasekharan informed the media that after it got here to the discover that the orders had been misused, they was withdrawn.
According to the Land Registration Act, 1964, farmers are allowed to chop timber planted or uprooted in the allotted land. However, reducing timber wouldn’t be allowed in all patta land. The resolution to withdraw the orders was taken after the misuse got here to the division’s consideration, Mr. Chandrasekharan mentioned, including that no additional orders had been issued.
He mentioned such an order was issued contemplating the request and views of farmers and their organisations. Besides, the laws introduced by K.M. Mani, who was the Revenue Minister in 2005, was additionally considered. Mr. Chandrasekharan refuted the allegation that he met the accused whereas he was the Revenue Minister.
Timber retailers neither contacted the workplace nor did he know the accused or had spoken to them straight, he mentioned.
It was additional discovered that the order was issued by the Revenue Department by overruling the objection of the Forest Department. A suggestion to take the permission of the Law Department was additionally rejected.