Mea culpa! One should have known. We always thought the role of the wild life warden is that of guardian angel of the forest and all its flora and fauna. It took the ‘Kurinji Sanctuary’ episode for us to realise our folly.
In modern times it has been redefined as the boundaries of the ecologically sensitive Kurinji Sanctuary would soon be. If we happen to possess or have access to forest land all we have do is to approach the warden. Once we pass on the details and location, the warden would shoot off a report to the government saying the area is inhabited, cultivated, possessed and can be handed over to the claimant by redrawing the sketch of the sensitive land. Mysterious wild fire would break out to clear unwanted flora. Ease of doing business at its best!
Now that Kurinji Reserve is signed, sealed and delivered, let?’s head to Silent Valley. Time to dump outdated conservation concepts. Let us raze the hills and build amusement parks. Let us fill up the valleys and build waterfront resorts. Tourists from all over the globe would make a beeline to the most serene destination in the world.
Let us split the remaining land and start ‘cultivation’. Though the leading party is declaredly atheist, the ruling front is blessed. For it has in-house consultants for all the above ventures.
A tale of two Commissions
Oommen Chandy is yet to realise what hit him. He too appointed a judicial commission. We all saw what it did to him! He along with many of his colleagues are still running for cover.
Meanwhile, we saw a fresh sleaze story unveil before us early this year. A judicial commission was promptly appointed by the LDF government. It came up with its report in record time. The government secretariat turned into a fortress, keeping a frenzied media at bay. The commission handed over the report to the CM under the cover of the security blanket. The commission found the minister was ‘trapped’. It only had a mild reprimand for the minister for being ‘careless’.
The poor minister who was being haunted by the media came out beaming, immaculately dressed, ready to return to the glory of power anytime - provided the High Court is also as magnanimous.
There is another significant suggestion from the Commission. Recommend to the Central
Government to regulate the media, formulate a code of conduct... Excellent! Let the state and union governments get together and gag the media. Let us get rid of uncomfortable questions. And move on with the ‘development agenda’.
Demolition men
If you were wondering who would replace the ‘three cats’ of V S Achuthanandan who made merry in the hills of Munnar ‘off roading’ on JCBs, evicting encroachers, here are the ‘avatars’ - the red brigade of Kumarakom. Show them the encroachment and tell them the extent. They would demolish the structure with precision and restore government land in no time. No legal hassles, no resurveys, no threat from Sub-Collectors and District Collectors. There is a catch though - the perpetrator should not have links with the ruling dispensation, the only exception being the CPI!
Time to dump
outdated conservation concepts. Let us raze the hills and build amusement parks. Let us fill up the valleys and build waterfront resorts.