Central panel defers Wayanad tunnel project, seeks study details
Expert Appraisal Committee
(EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has deferred examining the
environmental clearance
proposal for the Wayanad tunnel road project, seeking details from the state govt on studies conducted on geology, geotechnical aspects, landslides, and water drainage by expert institutions.
During its meeting, the EAC observed that the tunnel alignment passes through highly vulnerable terrain prone to landslides, where massive landslides occurred both in 2019 and 2024. This necessitates precautions during and post-construction to avert vibration-induced landslips. The subterranean 8.1-km-long Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel, cutting through the
Western Ghats
, is proposed to be built close to Chooralmala and Puthumala, which witnessed back-to-back landslides, at a cost of Rs 2,134 crore.
As per the minutes of the meeting held on April 4, released on April 23, the committee pointed out that the area falls in an environmentally fragile region, with a high landslide hazard zone and ESA villages. It observed that the area also experienced an extremely severe landslide disaster in the recent past, with a very high death toll, loss of properties and adverse land modifications.
"Therefore, all the anticipated impacts due to various activities envisaged under the project during the construction and operation phases must be evaluated with adequate scientific inputs and by considering up-to-date scientific literature available on such development projects elsewhere and their impacts," the minutes said.
It stated that the vibration impact of blasting could be felt in the influence zone and nearby built structures. It is necessary to examine the possibility of accentuating landslide incidents in the area based on a detailed evaluation of the recent causative factors and impacts of the severe landslide experienced in the area.
The EAC has asked the project proponent to provide detailed notes and presentations on all required studies conducted by expert institutions and their recommendations, besides observations of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) on the above studies, if any, and their recommendations.
The committee has also sought mitigation measures proposed during construction and operation phases to protect the tunnel and adjoining areas from landslides/soil collapse, water discharge/flooding, etc.
As per the MoEFCC notification dated July 31, 2024, Kodancheri, Nellippoyil, and Thiruvambadi villages of Thamarassery taluk in Kozhikode and Vellarimala village of Vythiri taluk in Wayanad fall under ESA villages. The area also reports endangered bird species such as Banasura Chilappan and Nilgiri Sholakili, five bird species under threatened categories as per the IUCN Red List, three vulnerable species, 14 species endemic to the Western Ghats, and 29 species under Schedule-1 and 155 species under Schedule-II of the WLP Act, 1972. Also, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve falls within the 10 km radius of the project alignment.
The State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) had recommended environmental clearance for the tunnel road, prescribing 25 conditions to mitigate adverse impacts, including that the method for tunnelling selected should be such that it will not lead to ground vibration at the surface.
Environmentalists, including Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi, had opposed the SEAC approval, alleging that it was provided without proper study into the environmental concerns and risk of tunnelling in a landslide-prone area.
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