Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Wayanad: Environmental activists in Kerala has demanded an immediate intervention of Kerala MP’s to reject the Chief Minister’s call to pressure Parliament to secure Presidential assent for the Kerala Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill.
The request to all 20 MPs from Kerala was made by 'Co-existence Kerala', an umbrella organization representing all environmental groups in the state. Co-existence Kerala is represented by N Badusha, Veena Marathur, TV Rajan, Adv Santhosh and KN Jayachandran
“The Bill passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly is illegal, unconstitutional, and anti-wildlife. It violates federal principles, contradicts international agreements, and exceeds the legislative authority of the State, as States cannot unilaterally amend laws listed in the Concurrent List”, the letter from Co-existence Kerala members to MP’s said.
“This amendment will not reduce human–wildlife conflict in Kerala; instead, it will worsen the situation. If enacted without the prior approval of the National Board for Wildlife, Kerala will inevitably become a hotspot for wildlife exploitation”, the letter said.
“The Bill is a political gimmick aimed at appeasing the land–resort–mining–encroachment lobby and certain religious leaders in the high ranges for vote-bank gains”.
“By passing this Bill, the Kerala Assembly has attempted to undermine the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972—landmark legislation enacted under the leadership of Smt. Indira Gandhi. The environmental laws introduced in the 1970s continue to provide the people of India with clean air, clean water, and essential natural resources for agriculture. We appeal to MPs, especially Smt. Priyanka Gandhi, not to support the destructive efforts of both the Central and State Governments to dilute these critical environmental protections one by one”, it said.
Kerala CM urge Kerala MP’s intervention to get President nod
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the MPs from the state to intervene to get President’s nod for the Wildlife Protection (Kerala Amendment) Bill.
The permission is crucial as the bill passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly simplifies major obstructions in the 11th section of the Wildlife Protection Law 1972.
In an online meeting convened on Thursday, the CM asked MPs to raise the demand for the disbursal of central share to be provided to the victims of the human-animal conflict. The meeting was attended by state ministers and other officers concerned.
Seeking the MP’s intervention to reinstate two tranches of Rs 6,757 crore and Rs 3,323 crore, which were cut from the state’s borrowing limits in the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26, respectively, Pinarayi reiterated the stand to increase the state’s borrowing limit to 3.5%.
