By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : The Congress-led opposition Monday walked out of the Kerala assembly after the presiding officer turned down their adjournment motion on the issue of 2,000 rubber trees being felled by criminals in the state’s Thiruvalla town.
The trees were felled early Friday – hours before presentation of the budget, which announced setting up a Rs.1,000 crore “Green Fund” for green activities, especially protecting trees and other environmental activities.
Kerala Congree-Mani legislator Joseph M.Puthuserry sought an adjournment motion to discuss the felling of more than 2,000 rubber trees from a 10-acre plot of land near Thiruvalla town.
“Today it is four days since this ghastly incident occurred and so far, none has been taken into custody. What is even more surprising is that the plot next to where this incident occurred is owned by a CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) leader and his trees have been left untouched,” said Puthuserry.
The trees were planted by a group of 11 poor families, who engaged in rubber cultivation after taking loans. It takes seven years for a rubber tree to yield sap and till then it has to be constantly looked after.
In his reply, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that police have registered a case and are investigating.
“Top police officials are looking into the matter and adequate compensation would be provided to the affected parties. We will also see that no recovery proceedings by financial institutions would be taken against these farmers whose trees have been cut down,” he said.
The opposition, however, alleged that those who felled the three-year-old rubber trees were all connected to the CPI-M and hence, no action had been taken against them.
With Speaker K.Radhakrishnan denying leave for the motion, Deputy Leader of Opposition G. Karthikeyan said that the prime culprit is none other than Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan.
“While he was Leader of Opposition (1992-1996) it was he who gave the lead for indiscriminately cutting down agricultural crops planted on reclaimed paddy fields. What happened in Thiruvalla last week is the ‘Green initiative’ that your government announced in the budget last week. Please resort to such criminal activities within your party and not against hapless farmers who are trying to eke a living,” said Karthikeyan as he led the entire opposition out of the assembly.