New Delhi, July 11: The Kerala government has established a three-member expert committee to ensure the safe removal of soil from the construction site of the Kaladi Tunnel project in Wayanad district. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced this decision following a landslide caused by heavy rainfall at the site, which resulted in multiple casualties.
The committee’s primary task is to investigate the situation and provide a report on the safe removal of accumulated soil. This decision was made during a high-level meeting that included the Chief Minister, the Home Minister, and the Public Works Minister.
In a post on the social media platform ‘X’, Chief Minister Satheesan stated, “The Kerala government has formed a three-member expert committee to report on the safe removal of soil accumulated during the construction of the Wayanad Kaladi Tunnel Project.”
The committee consists of Dr. Santosh G. Thampi (Professor at NIT Calicut), Dr. Jude Emmanuel (Environmental Scientist, DOECC-Coordinator), and a representative from NCESS. The expert panel will assess the conditions at the site and recommend measures for the safe removal of the soil.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Chief Minister Satheesan indicated that the accumulation of excavated soil and debris near the construction site was the cause of the incident. He alleged that the contractor failed to follow directives to remove this material.
Speaking to the media after visiting the headquarters of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), Chief Minister Satheesan noted that the district collector and the district disaster management authority had already instructed the contractor to remove the excavated soil from the site on June 20.
Given the ongoing monsoon season, the Chief Minister also expressed concerns regarding safety standards in National Highway construction projects across Kerala. He mentioned that the state government has held meetings with district collectors to identify and inspect high-risk areas.
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