UDF team visits Nelliampathy

A team of UDF MLAs visited Nelliampathy on Monday, as part of a fact-finding mission, with the aim of studying the problems of the leased estates in the area, and the issues related to estates which have violated lease terms.

The Congress MLAs in the team, including V D Satheesan, T N Prathapan, V T Balram and Hibi Eden, undertook the visit with the knowledge of KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala. Shreyams Kumar of the Socialist Janata (Democratic) Party was also part of the team. K M Shaji of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had also got the permission from his party leadership to be a part of the fact-finding mission, but could not undertake the trip because of the death of a relative.

The five MLAs who visited the area told reporters at the Kaikkatty guest house in Nelliampathy that the motive of the visit was to understand the issues affecting the area and ensure the protection of the environment.

Asked about the resignation of the head of the UDF sub committee on Nelliampathy M M Hassan, Satheesan said that they had not expressed reservations about any of the members of the sub-committee except P C George. The Chief Whip has been criticised for his remarks on T N Prathapan, who had written an article in a Malayalam newspaper.

“We had only reacted to this, and therefore, the UDF MLAs have no role in the resignation of Hassan from the sub committee,” Satheesan said.

Meanwhile, Hibi Eden said that their effort was to divert the attention of the citizens of the state from “non-issues” and bring focus back to the real problems affecting the state.

Prathapan said that Nelliampathy was part of the Western Ghats and the pristine environment of the area needs to be protected.

The MLAs also held a meeting with the Forest Department officials to discuss the issues concerning the estates. Based on the findings, a report will be submitted to the government at the earliest.

Asked whether it was proper to include Shreyams Kumar in the group despite allegations about excess land held by him and his family in Wayanad, Satheesan said that the allegations were being raked up by the LDF, after the SJDP had left the front.

Shreyams Kumar reiterated the UDF’s commitment to ensuring sustainable development in the state.