Wayanad (Keralam), Oct 23 Keralam Minister P K Basheer on Friday said two expert committees probing the Kalladi landslide near the Anakkampoyil tunnel project would submit their reports next month, following which the government would decide on the way forward.
Eight people were killed in the landslide, which occurred on July 7 at the site of the proposed Anakkampoyil-Meppadi tunnel project, intended to connect Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.
Speaking to reporters, Basheer said the committees were examining environmental concerns and disaster-related aspects of the proposed construction.
“The CM has asked the committees to submit their reports soon. A thorough assessment is necessary to ensure that the reports are technically sound. Further action will be taken after the reports are received,” he said.
The minister attributed the delay to the technical aspects that needed to be examined by the committees.
The findings would help the government decide whether to proceed with construction and finalise the related estimates, he said.
He added that a clearer response on the matter would be given in the first week of next month, once the reports were received.
On the proposed Bairakuppa bridge across the Kabini River, connecting Perikkalloor in Wayanad’s Pulpally with Bairakuppa in Karnataka, Basheer said the project had received administrative sanction of Rs 27 crore and was awaiting technical sanction.
He said the Karnataka government had issued a no-objection certificate for the project following discussions with Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had intervened to facilitate the project, he added.
The proposed bridge would be 80 metres long and 20 metres wide, the minister said.
While the approach roads on the Keralam side had reached the state border, land was required for the approach road on the Karnataka side.
“Three individuals have come forward to provide land free of cost for the approach road. It is a very encouraging development,” he said.
Basheer said the chief engineer of the National Highways wing had visited the site last week to examine the alignment.
The project was expected to be tendered next month after the alignment was finalised and the technical formalities completed, he said.
The foundation stone was likely to be laid by the end of December or early January, he added.
On the long-delayed Meppadi-Chooralmala road, Basheer said work had remained stalled for years, causing hardship to residents who had repeatedly protested against the delay.
He said the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS), the primary associate involved in the project, had several ongoing works and had experienced a slowdown in construction activities across the state.
“We have convened a meeting with them to speed up the work. We understand the difficulties faced by the people,” Basheer said.
(PTI News)
