“Union Minister exploiting situation for narrow interests”: Kerala CM targets Bhupender Yadav

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], August 6 (ANI): Reacting to the remarks of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that through such allegation Yadav is insulting the people affected by the disaster.

Kerala CM further blamed that in the situation when Kerala is yet to recover from the psychological trauma inflicted by a natural disaster that claimed numerous lives, the Union Minister is exploiting this situation for narrow interests.

The official release by the CMO of Kerala government, said, “Through such an allegation, the minister is insulting the people affected by the disaster. Who are these so-called unauthorised settlers? Are they the estate workers who perished in the landslide? Or are they the ordinary people who lived on their small plots of land? Anyone with even a basic understanding of Kerala’s hilly regions knows that the people living there cannot be labelled as unauthorised settlers.”

He further said, “We are in a period that requires deep contemplation and collective effort. It is regrettable that a few are exploiting this situation for narrow interests. It is particularly reprehensible when those tasked with enlightening the public about the reality are involved in it. Unfortunately, the recent statement by the Union Minister of Forest and Environment, Bhupender Yadav, is an example of this. He claimed that the landslide in Mundakkai in Wayanad district was caused by unauthorised human settlements, land encroachments, and illegal mining, with the complicity of the local government.”

Slamming Yadav for his encroachment remarks, Vijayan said, “Migration to Kerala’s hilly regions has a history spanning centuries. The lives and cultures that have developed in these challenging conditions have a long history. It is inappropriate for the Union Minister to be part of the propaganda that labels these people as encroachers without any understanding of this history.”

Reacting to Yadav’s illegal mining remarks, Vijayan asserted, “Another peculiar claim made by him is that the landslide in Mundakkai was caused by illegal mining. However, the nearest quarry to the landslide area is 10.2 kilometres away. Given this fact, why is the Union Minister disseminating false information?”

Taking a dig at the Union Government, Vijayan said that media reports have suggested that Union Government has approached scientists to write against Kerala in the context of the Wayanad disaster.

“You may be aware of reports that the Union Government has approached scientists to write against Kerala in the context of the Wayanad disaster. Media reports suggest that the Union Government is pressurising scientists to provide articles and opinions criticising the State Government against the backdrop of the landslide. This effort to mobilise scientists against the Kerala Government has reportedly been made through the Press Information Bureau. When considered alongside the Union Minister’s recent statement, these media reports appear to be accurate. They themselves need to think about whom they are trying to harm through these paid write-ups,” said Vijayan.

Adding further to it, he said, “Mundakkai is an area where the environment is seriously cared for, and it is known to all that no illegal mining occurs there. Despite this, claiming that the landslide was caused by illegal mining is politically motivated. Malayalis will understand this. Isn’t the Union Minister implying that the estate workers living in makeshift shelters are illegal encroachers? Aren’t such people placing the responsibility for the landslide on the impoverished workers?”

Kerala CM said that a collaborative approach, using scientific methods is needed to prevent such disasters.

The official release reads, “Kerala has yet to recover from the psychological trauma inflicted by a natural disaster that claimed numerous lives, left many more in uncertainty, and devastated an entire region. To prevent such disasters from recurring, we must collaboratively devise improved systems through scientific methods. This is essential in an era marked by global crises such as global warming and climate change. This is a critical issue for humanity’s survival.”

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Monday that there have been illegal human habitation and illegal mining activity going on under the protection of the local government, adding that the state government should make a plan for the ecosensitive zone.

“It is an illegal protection for illegal human habitation by the local politicians. Even in the name of tourism, they are not making proper zones. They allowed the encroachment of this area. It is a highly sensitive area. We have already constituted a committee headed by former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar. They also made the correspondence with the Kerala government. We feel it is the state government’s fault. There has been illegal human habitation and illegal mining activity in the protection of the local government,” Yadav said.

He further said that the Kerala government should make a plan for the ecosensitive zone.”

The state government should make a plan for the ecosensitive zone. The state government should also submit its report of the Committee headed by former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar,” he added.

Bhupender Yadav said that illegal habitation and mining should not be conducted in the ecosensitive zone.

“We suffered the loss due to illegal habitation and mining. We have made a committee for the ecosensitive zone. For a long time, the state government has been avoiding the committee, which they should not do,” he said.

The massive landslides hit Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad on July 30, wreaking mass devastation and causing the causing the loss of lives and property.