THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the state government is exploring the possibility of permitting felling of tress in Cardamom Hill Reserves, the CPI has come out against the move. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran made it categorically clear that no such move would be permitted.
Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Kanam asked the government not to let felling of trees from CHR. He pointed out that former Revenue Secretary Niveditha P Haran has recommended in her report not to allow tree felling in CHR.
The CPI is of the view that the Niveditha P Haran report be implemented, he said. The CPI, which has the Revenue portfolio, has come out against the move even as the government is looking for ways to permit tree felling in CHR.
A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in March decided to explore its feasibility. The Chief Minister had also directed officials to conduct necessary verification in this regard.
According to reports, the meeting had also reached an understanding to convert forest land, including CHR, into revenue land and issue title deeds. The CPI toughening its stance against the tree felling issue is sure to give a headache for the government.