Mullaperiyar tree felling: Kerala revokes controversial order

Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has revoked the controversial order granting permission to Tamil Nadu for felling 15 trees in Mullaperiyar dam. The decision to nullify the order was taken at a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

Earlier, the Wildlife Warden issued an order allowing Tamil Nadu to cut 15 trees in the Mullaperiyar baby dam. As the order triggered a controversy, the government approached the advocate general seeking legal advice on the cancellation of the order. 

Meantime, the opposition also demanded that the order should be withdrawn.

Later, the Advocate General gave legal advice to the government that there is no legal impediment in revoking the order. Following this, the government decided to revoke the order. 

Meanwhile, Wildlife Warden Bennichan Thomas, who issued the controversial order, has been suspended as part of the investigation. It is also revealed that he issued the order without the consent of the Chief Minister and the Forest Minister.

The Chief Minister also directed the Chief Secretary to look into the involvement of other officials in the matter.