Greens take on Church, political leaderships over ‘threats’ to Idukki Collector for enforcing court orders on environmental protection

Ten environmental organisations in Keralam have demanded an end to the alleged smear campaign and threats against the Idukki District Collector for implementing Supreme Court and High Court orders.

In a statement, the organisations pointed out that the Collector was “only carrying out” the Supreme Court order for the removal of illegal fences, walls and other obstructions erected on government revenue land illegally occupied by forest encroachers, land mafias and certain religious organisations, particularly those blocking elephant corridors; and the Kerala High Court’s directive to remove illegal constructions in five panchayats.

The statement said the State government should initiate contempt of court proceedings against those, including “MLAs, an MP, the Idukki Diocese and the Marxist party”, who have allegedly issued threats against Collector Dinesan Cheruvatt, who is also the chairperson of the Idukki District Disaster Management Authority.