CPM MLAs visit Nelliampathy

A five-member team of CPM MLAs from Palakkad district visited the estates in Nelliampathy as part of a fact-finding trip in the wake of the recent controversy over the Cherunelli estate.

The team led by M Chandran included M Hamza, K S Saleekha, K V Vijayadas and V Chenthamarakshan who represents the Nemmara constituency in which the Nelliampathy hills are located.

Speaking to reporters at the forest guest house at Kaikatty in Nelliampathy, CPM district secretary C K Rajendran and M Chandran MLA said that the government should take over all the estates which have completed the lease period and those which have violated the lease agreements.

They said that the promoters of the Cherunelli estate have violated all lease agreements by transferring the estate to various persons. Moreover, after the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 came into force, all the agreements made by the princely rulers have become void, Chandran said.

The promoters of the Cherunelli estate cultivated rubber apart from cardamom and coffee, which is also a violation of the pact. C K Rajendran said that the visits of the UDF sub-committee and the five UDF MLAs were a farce. He said that Finance Minister K M Mani was in league with the encroachers of Mathikettan hills in Idukki.

Chandran said that it was because of the laxity on the part of the Law Department that the estate owners were able to get a one-month stay against the takeover of the Cherunelli estate.

However, even after three months, the government has not taken any step to get the stay vacated. Karshaka Sangham leader Sudhakaran also accompanied the MLAs to Nelliampathy.

Apart from the Cherunelli estate, the team of MLAs visited the Rosary estate which was taken over by the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC).

The workers complained that prior to the takeover, the contributions to the provident fund and gratuity were not settled by the previous employer. 

Even after the KFDC took over, it could not pay the contribution to the provident fund due to the past arrears.