The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) has put on hold the environmental clearance for Kerala’s ambitious 8.75-km twin-tube tunnel road connecting Kozhikode and Wayanad. The proposed route slices through the fragile ecosystems of the Western Ghats and the Chooralmala-Mundakkai region, which witnessed a devastating landslide in July 2024 that claimed 298 lives.
The EAC has sought detailed geological surveys, landslide vulnerability assessments, and water drainage studies from the Kerala government. It also demanded comprehensive mitigation plans to manage potential landslides and flooding during the tunnel’s construction and operational phases.
Although the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) had earlier recommended clearance with 25 stringent conditions, the EAC expressed deeper concerns, pointing to the area’s ecological sensitivity and history of catastrophic natural disasters.
Environmentalists and local communities have raised alarm over potential threats to biodiversity, including rare species like the Banasura Chilappan and Nilgiri Sholakili, alongside fears of disrupting elephant migration corridors and tribal settlements.
While the Kerala government argues that the ₹2,134-crore project will significantly boost connectivity between Kerala and Karnataka and drive economic growth, the EAC has stressed the need to balance infrastructure development with safeguarding environmental integrity and public safety.
The EAC’s decision highlights the critical need for thorough environmental evaluation before undertaking massive infrastructure projects in ecologically delicate regions.
