News Brief
Centre’s Expert Panel Recommends Conditional Environmental Nod For Kozhikode–Wayanad Twin Tunnel Road Project In Kerala
Twin tunnel road (Representative Image) (Wikimedia Commons)
The Union Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) has recommended conditional environmental clearance for the proposed 8.75-km twin tunnel road between Kozhikode and Wayanad in Kerala, the Indian Express reported.
The 8.75-km-long twin tunnel road, proposed between Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi, is reportedly close to areas affected by the disastrous 2019 and 2024 landslides and will require blasting for construction in the fragile Western Ghats.
In April, the EAC had deferred its decision and asked the Kerala government to submit studies on the area’s geology, landslide history, and water drainage.
At a follow-up meeting on 14 May, the panel reviewed the reports and recommended clearance with several conditions.
Among the key conditions is the adhering to the recommendations of the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) to mitigate the impacts of tunnelling and blasting.
CIMFR's geological study had cautioned that tunnelling activities during construction, including vibration from blasting, can lead to landslips if it is uncontrolled.
The EAC also instructed the Kerala government to act on CIMFR’s full set of recommendations to mitigate blasting impacts and submit compliance reports.
In addition, it directed the establishment of the Appankappu Elephant Corridor to support elephant movement from South Wayanad and Nilambur North Forest Division to Silent Valley National Park.
Further measures include constructing elephant underpasses and culverts for smaller animals. A study was also mandated to monitor the endangered Banasura Chilappan bird found above the proposed tunnel.
The EAC has noted that the tunnel route cuts through landslide-prone zones and ecologically sensitive areas, including those identified under the Centre’s draft notification on protection of the Western Ghats.
