Two and a half months after one of many nation’s worst landslides was recorded in Kerala’s Wayanad killing 254 individuals and leaving one other 47 lacking, the state’s Left Democratic Entrance (LDF) authorities goes forward with plans to dig a 8.7km-long four-lane tunnel by means of the guts of a fragile portion of the Western Ghats.
The federal government’s acknowledgement on Oct 11 within the Meeting that it’s going to implement the controversial Anakkampoyil – Meppadi twin tunnel undertaking was the primary time after the July 30 landslides which flattened the villages of Mundakkai and Chooralmala that it indicated its resolve to go forward with the controversial undertaking which has raised issues amongst environmentalists and a few Wayanad residents.
One of many hills by means of which the tunnel will go is that of which a portion broke off within the early hours of July 30 inflicting the landslide. Challenge paperwork present that the tunnel passes by means of a number of ecologically delicate areas (ESA) that are liable to small and average landslides. Environmentalists argue that the undertaking just isn’t the type of growth that the federal government should push in a extremely fragile area. The federal government believes the tunnel will decongest the present highway by means of Thamarassery, enhance transportation, increase tourism, and cut back the commute time from Kerala to cities in Karnataka reminiscent of Mysuru and Bengaluru.
Learn extra: Media ‘wrongly portrayed’ price estimates of reduction for Wayanad landslides: CM
The undertaking, envisaged in 2020 and at present estimated to price ₹2134.5 crore with funding from the Kerala Infrastructure Funding Fund Board (KIIFB), includes constructing a four-lane, twin-tube unidirectional tunnel from Maripuzha in Kozhikode district to Meenakshi bridge close to Meppadi in Wayanad district. Of the full 8.73-km, 8.11 km will probably be a D-shaped tunnel. The tunnel highway will run by means of pure and reserve forests beneath hills reminiscent of Vavul Mala, Swargamkunnu and Chembra, the best peak of the Western Ghats in Kerala. As soon as completed, it’ll function an all-weather highway to Wayanad and act as an alternative choice to the present Thamarassery Ghat highway which has 9 hairpin bends and is liable to frequent visitors jams and minor landslides in the course of the monsoon.
In August final yr, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the state meeting: “Kerala appears to be like ahead to the realisation of the tunnel (undertaking) with a lot hope. Some technical points must be finalised. The development will start after that.”
On October 11 this yr, larger schooling minister R Bindu, talking on behalf of PWD minister PA Mohammed Riyas, informed the meeting that the federal government has acquired 90% of the forest and personal land required for the undertaking.
“The appliance for the ultimate setting clearance is pending earlier than the State Degree Skilled Appraisal Committee (SEAC). The tunnel work will probably be achieved in two packages. The monetary bids for the primary and second packages have been opened in July and September this yr respectively. As soon as we get the ultimate setting clearance, development will start,” the minister added.
Environmentalists to maneuver courtroom
Activists and consultants consider the tunnel will additional exacerbate the loosening of the topsoil within the hill roads, destabilise already fragile slopes, trigger landslides and intrude with the motion of untamed elephants within the space. They level to issues raised by SEAC in its conferences to this point and complain concerning the lack of scientific research on the topography of the realm and the affect drilling can have on it.
“The federal government, with a view to get undertaking clearance from the Centre, submitted false particulars in its affidavits. It denied that the undertaking space fell in an ecologically delicate space (ESA). It additionally mentioned no to potential displacement of individuals. The reality is that the undertaking space falls within the pink zone of the landslide susceptibility map and is liable to frequent landslides, particularly on the jap sides of the hills,” mentioned N Badusha, president of the Wayanad Prakruthi Samkrakshana Samiti (WPSS).
To make sure, Kerala, and the opposite 5 so-called Western Ghat states have notified ESAs, regardless of a draft notification by the Centre on July 31 after the landslide.
The draft offers the extent of ESAs in every of the six states, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Goa. For instance, in Kerala, following bodily verification by Kerala authorities, 9,993.7 sqkm has been proposed for implementation of ESA, however, the draft clarified that the “precise space will probably be finalized primarily based on the advice of the state, views of stakeholders and ESA Skilled Committee.”
The 60 day interval for public response on the draft notification expired on October 1.
Underlining the affect of the tunnel undertaking, Badusha pointed to the truth that the mouth of the alignment in Wayanad is proposed to be simply 800 metres away from Puthumala, the positioning of a 2019 landslide during which 17 folks have been killed. Additionally it is lower than 3 km away from Chooralmala, the village which misplaced greater than half of its residents within the July 30 landslides.
The appliance for environmental clearance is pending earlier than SEAC which, in a June overview assembly, raised issues concerning the stability of the hills the place the tunnel is proposed to be constructed primarily based on a subject inspection report.
The minutes of the assembly recorded, “Environmental sensitivity of the positioning is excessive. Areas close to the proposed tunnel highway are labeled as excessive or average landslide hazard zones….the steadiness evaluation reveals that possibilities of failure exist within the undertaking areas. The overburden slide or circulation down on the floor of overburden and underlying rock is a chance.”
SEAC additionally confirmed that the undertaking space fell inside ESA limits and that it’s near a settlement of the tribal Kattunaika group, hinting at its potential displacement.
SEAC on the similar assembly additionally warned of an escalation in human-elephant battle on account of the undertaking. “Any barrier on the proposed tunnel mouth in Meppadi would pressure wild elephants to utilise the route by means of Kalladi colony and close by settlements that are a lot populated. Such a state of affairs might result in elevated human-elephant interactions which might probably end in battle conditions,” it mentioned.
On the final assembly in September, SEAC determined to entrust a subject inspection group to guage the extra paperwork submitted by the undertaking proponent.
An setting affect evaluation report, submitted by Konkan Rail Company Restricted (KRCL) and KITCO to the federal government in October final yr itself admits that the undertaking space ‘is thought for frequent landslides, particularly throughout monsoon on the mountain slopes.’
Nevertheless it mentioned that the tunnel runs nearly perpendicular to the mountain alignment and that vibration-induced landslips could also be a chance solely at steep slopes the place soil thickness is excessive. “Minimal tunnelling has been proposed at hill slope to keep away from additional disturbance,” it mentioned.
WPSS has despatched a memorandum to the Union Ministry of Surroundings and Forests requesting that it revoke the in-principle approval given to the undertaking in April final yr. The ultimate environmental clearance has to return fromSEAC, he mentioned.
“With an enormous landslide being reported just lately near the undertaking space, the federal government ought to have ideally dropped the undertaking. However it’s going forward with it. So we’re planning to maneuver the Excessive Court docket in opposition to it,” Badusha informed HT.
Two weeks after the landslide, CM Vijayan, when requested by reporters about whether or not the federal government would rethink the tunnel undertaking, claimed that tunnels globally should not recognized to trigger disasters. “Nevertheless it definitely have to be studied. Let’s see,” he mentioned, matter-of-factly.
The CPI, the second-biggest constituent within the LDF alliance and recognized for taking pro-environment positions, can also be not very enthused concerning the undertaking. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam mentioned in August, “Within the case of Wayanad and notably about its setting, we should assume twice earlier than doing something. CPI’s stand is that correct scientific research have to be achieved earlier than implementing the tunnel undertaking. If we go forward with out conducting correct research, it’ll trigger issues within the minds of individuals.”
‘Want an all-weather highway’
That the undertaking is going through opposition solely from environmentalists and has bipartisan political assist and backing from a big part of locals in Wayanad underscores the pressing want for an all-weather highway to the hilly district.
Sukanya Ashin, a younger ward member of the Congress in Meppadi panchayat, misplaced her household dwelling and adjoining land within the 2019 Puthumala landslide. She and her husband’s household then relocated to Chooralmala, believing it to be secure, solely to face the specter of a landslide once more this yr. Although her dwelling was untouched this time, she mentioned she misplaced lots of her pals, acquaintances and family members.
However regardless of her private tragedies she nonetheless helps the tunnel undertaking emphatically.
“Our solely request to the federal government is to hurry it up and make it a actuality quickly. The folks of Wayanad are bored with the lengthy, winding journey to Kozhikode by means of the present ghat highway. Throughout medical emergencies, sufferers are at present dying en path to the hospital. If the tunnel highway turns into a actuality, it’ll additionally carry growth and increase tourism within the space,” she mentioned.
When requested concerning the threats of landslides and issues raised by environmentalists, she mentioned, “(Activists) know the right way to give lengthy speeches. How does that clear up the each day issues of our lives? All security procedures needs to be taken by the federal government whereas executing the undertaking.”
OR Kelu, the minister for welfare of SCs, STs and OBCs and an MLA from Mananthavady in Wayanad, mentioned the undertaking is shifting forward on the idea of correct research and approvals.
“I consider the undertaking was subjected to quite a few research whose reviews have been examined rigorously. Essential approvals are being taken. Wayanad is a hill district whose folks should climb down and journey to varied districts for his or her wants. The tunnel highway will give them higher and sooner entry to commute because the present Ghat roads should not in good situation,” Kelu informed HT.
CPM MLA Linto Joseph, from whose constituency the tunnel highway is slated to start, mentioned, “The prevailing Thamarassery ghat highway can’t be widened anymore because of security issues. So the one choice to have higher highway entry to Wayanad is by finishing the tunnel undertaking. These travelling to Bengaluru from Kozhikode and different districts can simply take this route. Giant cargo carriers may also shift from the ghat highway to the tunnel to achieve Wayanad sooner.”
