The CPI(M)-led Opposition lDF on Wednesday disrupted the proceedings of the Kerala Assembly over the Centre’s decision to keep 123 villages among the Western Ghats in the State in the category of ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) as recommended in the K Kasturirangan committee report on protecting the mountain ranges and its ecology.
The House witnessed noisy scenes and certain Opposition members climbing up the dais of the Speaker in protest over the issue. The Speaker was forced to suspend the proceedings for about an hour in the face of the protests.
left with no option, the Speaker agreed that matter could be discussed in the House on Thursday.
The turmoil in the House began after the Speaker refused leave for an adjournment motion on the matter for which notice was moved by Deputy Opposition leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan of the CPI(M). Kodiyeri alleged that the Centre’s assertion before the National Green Tribunal that the 123 villages would be kept as ESAs was contrary to its earlier assurance.
Moving the notice for the motion, Kodiyeri claimed that remittance of land taxes, registration of land, etc had not been taking place in the 123 villages because of their categorization as ESAs and that the farmers in those areas were facing eviction. “The only person who is not anxious about the situation is Chief Minister Oommen Chandy,” he said.
In his reply to the notice, Chandy said that the Government would implement the recommendations of the three-man experts’ panel it had appointed to study the issue.
The panel’s report would be submitted to the Centre on Friday, he said. “The Centre will take a decision on ESAs only after considering the State’s opinion,” he said.
Following the CM’s reply, Speaker G Karthikeyan refused leave for the motion. Though Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan announced his decision for a walkout over the Speaker’s decision, the Opposition members rushed to the well of the House demanding a debate immediately.
Slogan-shouting Opposition members from the high range regions of Idukki and Kozhikode districts entered the dais of the Speaker demanding suspension of the proceedings to discuss the Western Ghats issue. left with no choice, the Speaker held a meeting with the party leaders and informed them that the matter could be discussed on Thursday.