Wayanad twin tunnel's fate hangs in balance with EAC deferring clearance

Thiruvananthapuram: The fate of the Kerala government's much hyped twin tunnel road project at Wayanad continues to hang in balance as the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forest has deferred the final clearance to the project and sought additional information on the impact of the tunnel. The committee also observed that the tunnel alignment passes through highly vulnerable terrain prone to landslides.

The Kerala government's State Level Expert Appraisal Committee had recommended environmental clearance to the project in March by listing out a set of 25 odd conditions and also citing the serious environmental risks involved. The matter is now pending before the EAC for the final notification.

The 8.75 kilometre tunnel project with a total cost of Rs 2043.74 crore has been conceived as an alternative to the popular Thamarasserry ghat road between Wayanad and Kozhikode, which is a key route between Kerala and Karnataka. The proposed tunnel road begins from Meppadi in Wayanad to Anakkampoyil in Kozhikode.

Even as environmentalists raised serious concerns in taking forward the project as the major landslides of 2019 and 2024 occurred close to the project area, the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala is going ahead with the project. The tendering of the project was also finalised.

The EAC meeting held on April 4 observed that the tunnel alignment passes through highly vulnerable terrain of the Western Ghats that are prone to landslides where massive destructive landslides occurred during 2019 and 2024. It necessitates precautions during and post construction to avert vibration-induced landslips. The impact zone that lies in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve also has endangered bird species such as Banasura Chilappan and Nilgiri Sholakili,the EAC evaluated.

The EAC deferred a decision by seeking details of all studies conducted on the impacts of the tunnel construction and landslide and other calamity mitigation measures proposed during the construction of the tunnel as well as its operation.

An official involved in the project told DH that additional information sought by the EAC would be given soon and the EAC could possibly give the final clearance during his next meeting scheduled to be held in May.