Dharmadam link on tree felling case dogs govt.
The Hindu
Probe report points to ‘influential’ journalist’s suspicious role in the plunder
Speculations about the so-called ‘Dharmadam’ link in the illegal felling of rosewood trees in South Muttil in Wayanad appeared to dog the government and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] on Wednesday. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan sought to weaponise a recent Forest Department inquiry that pointed to an ‘influential’ journalist's ‘suspicious’ role in the plunder. The television reporter represented a Malayalam news channel in Kozhikode and used the place name Dharmadom on his byline.The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.