Kerala: Western Ghats tunnel vision' irks greens

KOZHIKODE: The state government is proceeding with a project linking Anakkampoyil in Kozhikode with Meppadi in Wayanad digging a 5.5 kilometre tunnel piercing through the ecologically fragile Vellari mountain ranges located on the sout-hern slopes of Wayanad in the Western Ghats. The tunnel will start at Swargamkunnu near Anakkampoyil and reach Kalladi near Meppadi. Moves are also afoot to rope under the expertise of E. Sreedharan to finish the project in a time-bound manner.

Tiruvambadi legislator George M. Thomas told this newspaper that both the places are at the same height from sea level. “We will get a level road connecting the two spots. It is expected to reduce the distance between Kalpetta and Kozhikode,” he said, adding that they hope to prepare a foolproof Detailed Project Report (DPR) in consultation with Mr E. Sreedharan. On the allegations levelled by environmentalists, Mr Thomas said that the road starts from a private land and ends in a private land.

“Not even a leaf of forest will be touched,” he said. According to Mr Sreedharan the cost per kilometre for the tunnel road is between Rs 65 crore to Rs 100 crore. “So we can complete the project with less than Rs 550 crore,” he added. Meanwhile, the other day in answer to a question raised by George M. Thomas, PWD minister G. Sudhakaran had informed that Rs 20 crore had been allotted for primary works on the project. Mr Sudhakaran also said that the government is awaiting the DPR for it.

Meppadi panchayat president K.K. Sahad told this newspaper that the panchayat will extend all support for the project. “We have been demanding some alternative for the Wayanad Ghat road which is witnessing traffic jams on a daily basis,” he added. “We are awaiting the Detailed Project Report for the project to start the works, he added. Though the tunnel road is being highlighted as a solution to the ecological destruction that would have been caused if construction was carried out on surface bifurcating the jungle, the environmentalists are buying the state’s claims.

Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithy secretary Thomas Ambalavayal said they got information the project costs up to '2,000 crore. “Wayanad is now well connected and there are enough roads even if the Ghat road is closed,” he said. “If the project has anything that damages the fragile ecosystem, environmentalists of Wayanad will oppose it tooth and nail,” he added.