The Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samiti (WPSS) has called for the immediate suspension of construction on the Kozhikode–Wayanad twin tunnel project following the recent mudslide near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi in Meppadi grama panchayat.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the environmental organisation said both the Kerala government and the judiciary should be held accountable for allowing the project to proceed despite legal challenges. WPSS noted that it had questioned the environmental and statutory clearances granted for the project through a series of petitions that eventually reached the Supreme Court.
The organisation also criticised Agriculture Minister and Kalpetta MLA T. Siddique’s remarks, alleging that attempts were being made to place the entire blame for the incident on the contractor while overlooking broader concerns surrounding the project.
Gold 101.3 FM, the UAE’s No. 1 radio station, continues to follow developments in the aftermath of the mudslide and the growing debate over the twin tunnel project.
WPSS alleged that the project was approved without adequate scientific evaluation despite repeated warnings from environmental groups. It further claimed that the Kerala government secured Stage-I forest clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change by providing misleading information.
The organisation also raised questions over the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., alleging that key safety parameters had been compromised to expedite the project. While the twin tunnel has been projected as a long-term solution to traffic congestion on the Thamarassery Ghat Road, WPSS argued that the project overlooks the ecological sensitivity of the Camel Hump mountain range in the Western Ghats, an area that has witnessed frequent landslides.
WPSS further alleged that its members faced harassment and intimidation after approaching the courts seeking detailed scientific studies before work on the project began.
Describing the Meppadi mudslide as a warning about the region’s environmental vulnerability, the organisation demanded an independent investigation into the role of the Public Works Department, agencies involved in project studies, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and other authorities associated with the project’s approval.
The organisation also urged the government to halt all construction until an expert scientific panel conducts a comprehensive assessment of the project’s environmental and geological safety.
WPSS president N. Badusha presided over the press conference, which was also addressed by leaders Babu Mylambadi, Thomas Ambalavayal, Thachambath Ramakrishnan, C.I. Gopalakrishnan, Sunny Marakkadavu and P.M. Suresh.
