Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samiti seeks action against revenue officers

KOZHIKODE: Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samiti (WPSS) demanded action against revenue officers who allegedly gave permission to fell centuries-old rosewood trees inside Aakollii estate in Brahmagiri valley at Thirunelly village in Mananthavady taluk.
WPSS president N Badusha said that 50 rosewood trees, which are around 500 years old, were felled. WPSS also demanded action against the former deputy ranger of Begur forest range who gave the nod for a cutting permit saying that the trees were dead.
Badusha said that all major estates in Thirunelly taluk belonged to the government as the Supreme Court had ordered that the lands held by the British prior to Independence would remain with the government and the plantations should be taken over by the state government."The government also made it clear that the trees in such lands should not be felled and that those in possession of the land can only continue existing plantation activities," he said.
Badusha added that after Muttil tree felling controversy, the application to fell trees from Varyad estate was forwarded by the collector to the land revenue commissioner who rejected the application. "The Thirunelly village officer and taluk tahsildar had granted NOC fully knowing these facts," Badusha said, adding that illegal tree felling inside plantations have picked up pace after a two-year lull after the Muttil tree felling row.