Seven resorts in Wayanad's high hazard zone face demolition order

Thiruvananthapuram: The Wayanad district administration has ordered the demolition of seven resorts built in high hazard zones of the landside susceptibility regions at Ambukuthimala in Nenmeni grama panchayat near Sultan Bathery.

The move could be considered as a repercussion of the back-to-back landslides in Wayanad, the latest being the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide of July 30 that claimed over 300 lives. There had been widespread allegations that illegal constructions by tourism lobbies in high hazard zones was a vitiating factor for the landslides.

Manathavady sub collector and sub divisional magistrate issued orders on December 17 directing that the seven resorts should be demolished within 15 days.

The matter had come up at the district development committee meeting on September 28. Subsequently, a joint committee of officials of various departments concerned was formed to look into each case. The committee found that buildings and related strictures like ponds of the seven resorts are constructed in the high hazard zone - 500 metre buffer zone of the of the landside susceptibility zone published by the Kerala Disaster Management Authority. One of the resorts was even constructed in a 48-degree slope terrain.

The resorts facing action are Eagle Nest, Rock Villa, Edakkal Village, Aster Gravity, Naturiya, RG Dew and Golden Fort. All are located in Ambukuthimala (Ambukuthi mountain) where the Edakkal caves are located.

Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi (Wayanad nature protection forum) President N Badusha said that constructions at the high hazard zone of Ambukuthimala could be considered only as the tip of the iceberg. There are many such illegal constructions in many sensitive areas including the landslide hit Mundakkai. Diverting the natural water flow to make swimming pools is a major factor that leads to landslides, he pointed out.