Kasturirangan Report: Christian Lobby Hijacks Board to Determine Ecologically Sensitive Zones

Kochi: There are allegations of the Christian lobby hijacked the meeting called for by Chief Minister Ooommen Chandy in connection with deciding ecologically sensitive zones (ESI) which has been specified by Kasturirangan Report. Sources state that the meeting called for on 17 July 2015 was attended by 36 people, out of which 21 were Christians.

Among those of Christian lobby who attended the meet are MPs Anto Antony, Adv Joyce George, MLAs Roshi Augustine, ES Bijimol, president of Idukki district panchayat MT Thomas, along with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, finance minister KM Mani, water authorities minister PJ Joseph and rural development minister KC Joseph.

Such a meeting, at a time when Christian church has made it clear that it will not abide by the guidelines set forth by Kasturirangan report, makes the agenda very clear- all this, with Oommen Chandy supporting the church’s cause.

The Centre had directed the state government to submit a report by demarcating those sensitive zones, before 31 July. In spite of having had enough time to prepare a detailed report, it has been alleged that the meeting was called for in haste and a report prepared, which omitted the four important districts in Kottayam.

There are many organizations that have sought implementation of Gadgil Kasturirangan report without any dilution. Representatives of these organizations have been cleverly omitted from the meeting chaired Oommen Chandy. Instead members of the Christian lobby who backed the strife against Kasturi Rangan report were invited for the meeting. At a juncture like this, ample censure against the Chief Minister has risen, for hatching a political conspiracy for favouring vested interests and appeasing communal interests.