Probe sought into alleged secrecy over Assembly panel’s visit to Aralam farm

Alleging that the District Tribal Mission authorities deliberately kept secret the visit of the Kerala Legislative Assembly Assurance Committee to the Aralam farm rehabilitation area and assessment of issues related to the construction of the elephant proof wall, Adivasi Dalit Munnetta Samithi president Sreeraman Koyyon has sought an inquiry into the matter.

Mr. Koyon alleged that the secrecy was intended to block discussions on corruption in the tribal rehabilitation area over the past decade and on the deaths of tribal people in wild elephant attacks, which he attributed to administrative lapses.

He said that an officer facing allegations and still holding charge as Tribal Rehabilitation Development Mission (TRDM) site manager and senior officials of the Aralam Farming Corporation were behind the move. He said the latter had helped private companies and individuals obtain tribal land in Aralam farm on lease and use lease agreements to secure loans from scheduled banks.

Mr. Koyon alleged that MLAs from both the ruling and Opposition fronts attempted to portray the committee’s visit as a private visit, and termed it a betrayal of the tribal community. In a complaint submitted to the Assembly Speaker, he sought action against officials who allegedly concealed information about the committee’s visit and demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the visit.