A major landslide hit Wayanad district in Kerala on Tuesday. As rescue operations continued in the area to search for the missing, state Agriculture Minister T Siddiq said the incident could have been prevented, describing the landslide as “man-made”.
The minister’s statement raised concerns about the environmental impact of large infrastructure projects in the Western Ghats.
While rescue operations are underway and authorities are yet to determine the exact cause of the landslide, Minister Siddiq claimed that “unscientific dumping” of excavated soil and mud resulting from tunnel construction caused the disaster.
Why did the minister describe it as a “man-made landslide”?
Speaking after the landslide, the minister blamed the handling of excavation waste at the tunnel project site, and claimed that repeated warnings had been ignored.
“It is a disaster committed by unscientific dumping of soil and mud as part of the tunnel project. There were indications of such actions, and they were raised in meetings of Konkan officials. But it seems that no corrective steps have been taken. Six people have been hospitalized so far. NDRF teams from Kozhikode and Wayanad are still on their way. Efforts are being made to search for the trapped people and coordinate rescue operations,” Siddique said.
The Minister’s remarks have renewed interest in the debate on the environmental risks associated with the Anakambwele-Kaladi-Mbadi Tunnel Project.
What happened in Wayanad?
The landslide occurred in Kalady, where workers on the tunnel project were staying. One person was killed and at least seven injured in the accident.
According to officials, local residents rescued at least three people before emergency teams arrived at the site. Several vehicles used to transport tunnel workers were also damaged.
Police personnel, fire and rescue services and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to conduct search and rescue operations.
Chief Minister V D Satheeshan held an emergency meeting in the wake of the incident and directed ministers to coordinate rescue efforts in Wayanad.
Read also: One dead and 7 missing after a landslide hit the Wayanad Tunnel Project in Kerala
Why is the tunnel project controversial?
Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi Tunnel is a tunnel $The Rs 2,134-crore project aims to provide an alternative route between Kozhikode and Wayanad by bypassing the landslide-prone Tamarassery Ghat road. The two-lane tunnel is expected to improve connectivity and reduce travel time between the two areas.
However, the project has faced opposition from environmentalists and conservation groups, who say it passes through ecologically sensitive terrain in the Western Ghats, an area that has seen frequent floods and landslides in recent years.
The legal battle over the project has also reached the courts. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court refused to stop construction after the Kerala High Court upheld the environmental clearance, noting that regulatory authorities had imposed safeguards and that concerns over compliance could be addressed before the National Green Tribunal if necessary.
Also Read: Controversial tunnel road in Wayanad faces scrutiny after landslide tragedy
An investigation will likely determine the cause
The landslide has put the tunnel project under the microscope once again, especially after the minister claimed that mismanagement of the excavated soil contributed to the disaster.
However, authorities have not officially determined the cause of the landslide. Rescue operations remain the immediate priority, while any link between ongoing construction work and the incident is expected to be examined as part of the investigation later.
