Ganesh-George quarrel resumes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The meeting convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday to discuss on Ecologically Fragile Lands (EFA) was troubled with Forest Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar and Government Chief Whip P.C. George resuming their quarrelling with each other.


The two leaders exchanged abuses and went on arguing despite the intervention of the Chief Minister. The showdown only ended with Ganesh Kumar walking out of the meeting, which was convened at the state legislative assembly. The officers close to the minister also walked out.


The squabble was a continuation of their earlier dispute on the taking over of Nelliyampathi estates. Minister P.J. Joseph, MLAs N. Shamsuddin, and Roy Agustine were also present at the meeting.


The meeting saw, right from its commencement, the verbal battle which lasted for 10 minutes. Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash arrived only after Ganesh Kumar walked out.


When the meeting began, P.C. George introduced the matter on the taking over of Cherunelli estate in Nelliyampathi. Ganesh replied that the matter needs not to be discussed at the meeting which was convened to decide on Ecologically Fragile Lands. George demanded to examine the move to declare Cherunelli estate as ecologically fragile land. Ganed put George down when he asked him to put Cherunelli estate under the EFA. To this, George retorted “You come to make it under EFA. I’ll make you sit where you should be”.


At last, decisions of the forest ministry were taken without the presence of forest minister.


The main decisions are: (1) Do not prevent any ongoing farming activities on lands declared as ecologically fragile (2) Only check if any tree is cut down (3) Forest and Revenue officers should be informed of this (4) Examine once again those statute that the notification would be issued to declare some lands as ecologically fragile.