The Kerala government has withdrawn a gag order that was issued on August 1, preventing the scientific community from speaking about the Wayanad landslide or visiting the area, after facing severe criticism.
Chief Secy of Kerala issues clarification on the note issued by the Principal Secy, Disaster Management to the Principal Secy, Science and Technology, regarding exercising restraint in expressing opinions related to the landslide in Wayanad.#Kerala #WayanadLandslides pic.twitter.com/ZKq7I7fwPE
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 2, 2024
In a strangely worded ‘clarification’, the chief secretary of Kerala has stated that the ‘intention’ was not to restrict the scientific community from carrying out research, but to prevent scientists from sharing opinions about the landslide (to the media), because such opinions may be misrepresented or misquoted to create panic in the current situation.
#WayanadLandslides: Kerala government initially issued a gag order to the scientific community, barring field visits to village and restricting media statements.
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 2, 2024
However, facing intense backlash and accusations from the BJP of suppressing the truth, the state government has now… pic.twitter.com/yCQz49qiHI
Asserting that they believe the scientific studies are very important, the chief secretary’s note further said they think the studies that can throw light on the challenges faced by the state in the context of climate change are really important.
Curiously, the chief secretary’s note suggested that the government of Kerala is interested in promoting only one type of scientific study, the ones that are about ‘climate change’ challenges for the state.
This is probably an indirect dismissal of the ‘other’ type of scientific studies, especially the ones that have been repeatedly warning that widespread ecological damage, mining, logging and failure to prevent the destruction of forests and hills by the state government may be causing the natural disasters in the hilly areas of the state.
One of the studies was the widely cited Madhav Gadgil report, which had warned the state government against the damaging impact of population expansion and mining, and construction activities in the hills. Gadgil had called the 2018 Kerala floods a ‘man made disaster’.
In the now withdrawn order, Tinku Biswal, state relief commissioner and principal secretary, Kerala State Disaster Management has asked the Principal Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology to direct all science and technology institutions in Kerala not to undertake any field visits to Meppadi panchayat in Wayanad, which is notified as a disaster-affected area.
“The scientific community shall be directed to restrain themselves from sharing their opinions and study reports to the media. If any study is to be undertaken in the disaster-affected area, prior permission shall be obtained from Kerala Disaster Management Authority,” the note said.
The Kerala government faced severe criticism after the order, with many journalists, politicians, and social media users condemning the government’s hostile approach to scientists and active discouragement of scientific research in a sensitive area.
HM Amit Shah slams Kerala govt in parliament, says they ignored repeated warnings from the center about an imminent disaster
On Wednesday (31st July), Union Home Minister Amit Shah came down heavily on the Kerala government for politicising and indulging in blame game over the tragic landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad. He lambasted the Pinarayi Vijayan government and stated that the Union government gave them early warnings, several days in advance of the major calamity. He also charged the Communist government with ignoring early warning alerts issued by the Union government.
