The Kerala government has been allowing Tamil Nadu to fell trees and clear jungle growth around the baby dam of the Mullaperiyar dam since early 1980s, according to documents.
Incidentally, the State government had in November suspended Bennichan Thomas, Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala, for permitting the felling of 15 trees in the area adjacent to the baby dam and revoked the order for cutting the trees. Three weeks later the official was reinstated to the same post.
