Citing safety, rubber yielding trees axed in Pathanamthitta

Kottayam: A Pathanamthitta man who depended on his two-acre rubber plantation for a living got the shock of his life when he saw 14 of his rubber trees axed mercilessly in the name of disaster management.

According to K Thomas Mathew, personnel working on contract for KSEB to clear tree branches cut down his trees. Mathew says that the 14 trees that were axed were nowhere near the power lines. He also said that he was not informed about the cutting of trees. Now, Mathew has given a complaint to the higher officials, including the chief engineer. The local MLA has also got in touch with Thomas, assuring him all support.

Though he was residing in Thiruvananthapuram, Mathew was maintaining his ancestral property in Pullad, Pathanamthitta. “Nine months ago, I received a notice from KSEB regarding clearing branches. I spent around Rs 15,000 and cleared all branches as per their demand,” he said.

According to Mathew, the contract workers arrived at his plot on May 16 and axed the trees when the caretaker of the property went to have lunch. “The trees that were axed were hardly five years old and they were tapped for natural rubber. These trees could have been tapped for a minimum of 25 years. Who will compensate my loss?” Mathew asked.

Mathew also alleged a nexus between the contract workers and timber merchants. “When I rushed to my house the next day, timber merchants arrived at my home for buying the wood. I suspect a nexus between them,” he alleged.

Meanwhile, electricity minister Sunny Joseph has ordered a probe into Mathew’s complaint. The deputy engineer has been asked to file a report.