Affidavit on Cardamom Hills not submitted in SC: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb1: Kerala Forest Minister Binoy Viswam today made it clear the government had not submitted any affidavit before the Supreme Court on the status of Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR) as forest area.

Rejecting the criticism of Former Revenue Minister and Kerala Congress (Mani) leader K M Mani, he reiterated the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government would not go against farmers' interests.

Talking to mediapersons here, he informed that both the Revenue and Forest Departments had already held a series of talks on the issue and the government's aim was to protect the interests of the farmers.

Mr Viswam alleged Mr Mani was misleading the farmers with fabricated information on the issue and added during his tenure as Revenue Minister in the previous United Democratic Front (UDF), Mr Mani had not taken any effective measures to find a solution to it.

''We are only eight months into office and we will find a solution soon. The discussions in the direction is going on,'' he added.

Former Revenue Minister K M Mani had alleged the LDF Government had filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court on the status of CHR.

UNI