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Trivandrum, India
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan (file photo)
The chief secretary to the Kerala government quickly issued a statement clarifying that the advisory “is not intended to restrict the scientific community in the state from conducting research and providing insights.”
Amid severe landslides in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday directed Chief Secretary V Venu to withdraw a report issued by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Controversial instructions that restrict the state's science and technology agencies from sharing their opinions and research with media reports.
In a statement on Thursday evening, the CM said the news that the SDMA had directed scientific agencies and scientists not to visit the disaster-hit Meppadi panchayat in Wayanad and not to express opinions is misleading.
“The state government has no such policy,” Vijayan said.
“The chief secretary has been directed to intervene immediately and withdraw communications conveying such information,” he added.
The Chief Secretary to the Government of Kerala also quickly issued a statement clarifying that the recommendation “is not intended to restrict the scientific community in the state from conducting research and providing insights”. '
He further stated that the purpose of issuing the advisory was to “dissuade remarks and opinions by personnel of national scientific agencies that could be misunderstood or misquoted and thereby cause panic and confusion among the public, especially during this sensitive period.” '
The state's scientific community had earlier strongly protested against a note prepared by State Relief Commissioner and Principal Secretary Disaster Management Tinku Biswal directing all science and technology agencies in the state not to conduct any field visits to Meppadi Panchayat in Wayanad, where the incident on Tuesday The devastating landslide killed several people.
The note states that the scientific community should refrain from sharing its opinions and research reports with the media.
It also said that prior permission from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) is required to conduct any research in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Tejasvi Surya took to his official X account to criticize the now-withdrawn note and termed it an “atrocious” order.
Emergency and censorship came naturally to Communists.
The state government is concerned about such activities… pic.twitter.com/MhnZXpca03
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) August 1, 2024
A massive landslide occurred in Wayanad district of Kerala on Tuesday morning, killing at least 291 people and injuring many others.
(With PTI input)
