The minister chaired a meeting at which he agreed to replant eucalyptus

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Belying the established narrative of a bureaucratic conspiracy, emerging details now reveal that the forest minister was fully aware of the decision to bypass government policy and allow replanting of eucalyptus in Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) plantations

In fact, AK Saseendran chaired a high-level meeting that gave permission to KFDC.

In confrontation with CUTS, Saseendran admitted that the decision was indeed taken at a meeting he chaired on September 19, 2023. “It was taken in view of the serious (financial) situation of KFDC,” he maintained.

Bypassing the state government’s environmental restoration policy, which aimed to phase out eucalyptus and acacia plantations, additional chief secretary KR Jyothilal issued an order on May 7, 2024, allowing KFDC to replant eucalyptus in its plantations in 2024-25. After causing controversy, the order issued at the request of KFDC director general Georgi P Mathachen was canceled on May 20.

Efforts were soon made to place all blame on officials, with many decrying bureaucratic arrogance sabotaging government policy. However, TNIE traced the decision back to a meeting chaired by Saseendran and attended by principal chief conservator of forests (forest conservation) D Jayaprasad, Jyothilal and Georgi.

The meeting was convened at the request of KFDC to find a solution to the crisis that might arise after the corporation discontinued cash-generating eucalyptus and acacia plantations.

“We had to ensure the profitability of KFDC. The Planning Board also allowed her to replant eucalyptus. We thought that the corporation should be given a chance to survive and sustain itself,” Sasendran said.

The state government has introduced the 2021 Environmental Restoration Policy to phase out invasive and exotic plants. However, KFDC requested a one-year extension and at the work plan meeting on 20 October 2022, the KFDC Chief Executive requested permission to replant eucalyptus in 2024-2025 as well. But the request was denied. Georgi presented this issue to the State Planning Board at its November 3, 2022 meeting.

There was general agreement that KFDC, being a commercial entity, did not have to be guided by state policy. Georgi then wrote to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) seeking approval for the amendments made to the management plan. However, the MoEFCC rejected the application in December 2022, citing government policy. In this context, KFDC requested a meeting on September 19, 2023, where it obtained permission to replant the eucalyptus.