Seek treatment if symptoms occur. The Chief Minister said that the norms should be strictly followed
First Published Dec 21, 2022, 6:05 PM IST
Thiruvananthapuram: The Chief Minister said that the situation of increasing covid in the world has come into existence. Cases are less in the state. Take care not to get infected with covid. The Rapid Response Team will meet under the leadership of the Health Minister. Seek treatment if symptoms occur. The Chief Minister said that the norms should be strictly followed.
The Chief Minister said that it was an attempt to create a misunderstanding in the buffer zone. No action will be taken to affect people and livelihoods. The government is of the view that residential areas and agricultural areas should be excluded from the buffer zone area. Arguments to the contrary are false. Submit a final report to the Supreme Court including all buildings in the area. No worries for those living in the buffer zone. The minister said that everything will be clarified in the review petition in the Supreme Court.
The buffer zone was announced during the second UPA government. On that day, the Chief Minister accused Jairam Ramesh, the environment minister during the second UPA and Congress leader, of being tough on the buffer zone issue. In 2010, Jairam Ramesh had criticized the states on the buffer zone issue. A 10 km buffer zone was introduced in the wake of the Wildlife Conservation Policy of 2002. At that time, the UDF government was in the state. Three sub-committees were formed in the state with VD Satheesan, TN Prathapan and N Shamsuddin as the heads. A sub-committee meeting of the State Wildlife Board was held on January 16, 2013. Later on February 11, 2013, a meeting was held in Wayanad to determine the buffer zone in Wayanad.
It is doubtful whether the sub-committee considered the concerns of the people. Later, the UDF government decided to have a buffer zone of 12 km. Residential areas were excluded but documents were not provided to the court. The LDF government tried to avoid the populated areas. The Center made concessions in the buffer zone also due to pressure from the states. The state government has also given a buffer zone from zero to one kilometer in length. It was also decided to conduct a field survey directly in the buffer zone. The Chief Minister said that the LDF government had given a report to the Center by completely excluding the residential areas. But he said that LDF fixed the buffer zone limit of 1 km during the UDF era of 12 km.
The Chief Minister said that the Supreme Court judgment came before the Centre’s decision on the report submitted by Kerala to completely exclude the residential area from the buffer zone. Citing the court order, the Chief Minister said that the Supreme Court verdict had said that survey can be done by drone or satellite.
The state government did not delay to study the court verdict and take further action. The Supreme Court verdict came on June 3. The minister convened a meeting on June 8. A letter was sent to the central government on June 14 with demands to approach the Supreme Court and to exclude residential areas. A letter was issued to the AG on June 24 to file a review petition to protect Kerala’s interest. The Chief Minister said that he had sent a letter to the Central Government on June 25 with the same demands.
The Chief Minister said that the report will be submitted to the Supreme Court only after conducting a field survey in the buffer zone. There was no delay on the part of the State. There is false propaganda. The delay is false propaganda. Correct and authentic news should be published in the buffer zone. Hill people are worried. The Chief Minister said that misleading news should not be published.
Last Updated Dec 21, 2022, 6:28 PM IST
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