Left govt in Kerala wasted time regarding survey of buffer zone areas: UDF

Ernakulam: The Congress-led UDF opposition on Sunday alleged that the ruling Left front in Kerala wasted time since June this year to carry out a manual survey of areas which may fall in the one-kilometre buffer zone around protected forests and wildlife sanctuaries, and called the satellite survey report as “incomplete and inaccurate”. The objections against the satellite survey report of the state government have been gaining momentum over the last few days with locals of affected areas, Congress party and Christian religious organisations terming the survey as “inaccurate” and “lacking clarity”.
In view of the criticisms against the report, state Forest Minister A K Saseendran on Sunday said that it would not be placed before the Supreme Court or the Centre in its present form. The minister said help from all departments concerned, including Revenue and Local Self Government, has been sought to come out with a comprehensive report which can be placed before the apex court and the central government. Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly V D Satheesan, earlier in the day, said the apex court had in June directed that a one-kilometre wide buffer zone needs to be maintained around protected forests and wildlife sanctuaries across the state. However, the Left government took no steps to carry out a proper manual survey utilising the local bodies across the state and instead opted for a satellite survey after wasting several months’ time, he alleged. Satheesan further alleged that the satellite survey was “incomplete and inaccurate” as it has not taken into account several residential and agricultural areas, towns and thousands of constructions in the surveyed villages.
“The government deserves no forgiveness for its laxity and mismanagement with regard to this issue,” the LoP said while speaking to reporters here. He also alleged that it was the ruling Left, which in 2019 passed an order that residential areas can be included in buffer zones, and it was that decision which led to the Supreme Court directions issued in June this year. Satheesan said that if the state government goes to the Supreme Court with the satellite survey report, it would have an adverse effect on the interests of the state.