Suspend Wayanad tunnel work pending fresh study, says Cong leader; CPI(M) disagrees

Thiruvananthapuram, July 9 (PTI) Senior Congress leader M M Hassan on Thursday sought suspension of work on the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel project pending a fresh environmental study.

CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, however, said the recent Wayanad landslide should not derail the major infrastructure project.

Two days after a landslide at the tunnel project site in Wayanad claimed six lives, Hassan, senior Congress leader and former KPCC president, demanded that construction be suspended until an independent expert committee conducts a fresh environmental impact assessment.

The July 7 landslide struck the Kalladi stretch of the proposed tunnel project connecting Wayanad and Kozhikode districts. The death toll rose to six on Thursday with the recovery of three more bodies.

In a statement, Hassan alleged that the project area was environmentally fragile and claimed the previous LDF government proceeded with the project despite being aware of the risk of landslides.

He said the then Leader of Opposition and present Chief Minister V D Satheesan, along with the UDF, had cautioned against going ahead with the project without a comprehensive environmental impact assessment. The LDF, however, ignored the warning and branded the UDF as anti-development, he alleged.

Hassan claimed there were serious lapses in the approval process, alleging that the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee relied on a questionable Public Works Department report to conclude that the project area was not an ecologically sensitive zone.

He alleged that incorrect information had been furnished to the Union Environment Ministry to obtain environmental clearance.

The Congress veteran sought stringent action against the construction company, alleging violations of safety norms in soil excavation and disposal.

Govindan, however, said the landslide tragedy should not be used as a reason to stall major development projects such as the tunnel.

He said the project was launched on the basis of scientific studies and reports, including those prepared by central agencies, and that any shortcomings in those reports should be thoroughly investigated. The incident, he said, was caused by a massive hill collapse.

PWD Minister P K Basheer made it clear that the government had no plans to abandon the project, stressing that ensuring safety was its foremost priority.

"The intention is not to stop the project. Safety is the key factor. We will examine all aspects and decide how the project can be taken forward safely," he told reporters here.

Basheer said the tunnel project had received environmental clearance from the Union Environment Ministry and that the recent landslide had raised concerns warranting a detailed examination.

"We will thoroughly investigate whether there were any scientific or procedural lapses in the project. Only after such an assessment will a decision be taken on the future course of construction," the minister added.

The remarks came a day after CM Satheesan said the government would carry out a detailed examination to determine the reasons behind the Wayanad landslide.

The CM said it would also be examined whether the directives issued by the central government while granting environmental clearance to the tunnel project had been adhered to by the construction company.

Work on the tunnel, which will connect Wayanad with Kozhikode, will restart only after these two examinations are completed, he added. PTI