Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

Govt. sought leniency towards tribals

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MARCH 5. The State Government had written to the Central Empowered Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests seeking leniency in the eviction of tribal encroachers at the Muthanga Range of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and had described their agitation as largely symbolic.

This was in sharp contrast to the Government's description of their agitation as `an armed uprising to establish self-rule' following the police firing on the adivasis.

The letter dated January 31 from the Chief Secretary, N. Chandrasekharan Nair, addressed to the Member Secretary of the Committee, Jiwarajka, was released here on Wednesday by the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, to prove that the Government was advocating a lenient approach.

The Chief Secretary said in the letter that the district administration had taken steps to contain the encroachment at Muthanga and Wayanad North and South forest divisions and was continuing the efforts to get the tribals to vacate the forestland.

Mr. Chandrasekharan Nair also noted that there had been no destruction of trees or fauna by the tribals. The activists were continuing their agitation by staying put in the areas.

He continued that the Government was watching the situation closely. ``The Government is committed to preserve forest resources and has acted quickly wherever there has been any intrusion into forest areas. The recent largescale eviction carried out at Mathikettan is an example. However, as encroachers in this case are landless tribals who are from the most deprived sections of society, Government would like to use force only as a last resort. Already some of the encroachers have reportedly left the forests and the continuing occupation is largely symbolic. The district officers are continuing their efforts to persuade the tribals to vacate the land encroached upon. We shall keep the committee informed of further developments,'' the letter concluded.

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