Wayanad Debris Slip: Geoscientist Demands Comprehensive Probe into Unscientific Works
Geoscientist C.P. Rajendran has called for a detailed investigation into the debris slip that occurred at Kalladi, near the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel road entrance in Wayanad earlier this month. Rajendran, a member of the expert panel appointed by the Kerala government to probe the July 7 disaster, spoke to the media after visiting the site on Thursday afternoon.
Rajendran emphasised that a hasty conclusion about the incident would be premature. The team, he said, will examine whether unscientific construction activities contributed to the debris slip. The panel is also scheduled to visit the Anakkampoyil entrance of the tunnel road in Kozhikode on Friday.
The expert team includes P. Pugazhendi, Chief Wildlife Warden; Vishnudas, environmental scientist; Sarmistha Singh, hydrologist; Sreevalsa Kolathayar, civil engineering expert from the National Institute of Technology-Karnataka; Ankesh Kumar, engineering expert; and Madhu Karthik M., structural engineering expert, both from the Indian Institute of Technology-Palakkad.
The panel's mandate covers determining the causes of the tragedy, evaluating environmental approvals granted for the tunnel road project by the Union and State governments, scrutinising approvals from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, and verifying whether the construction company adhered to all guidelines.
The debris slip has raised concerns about the safety of development projects in ecologically sensitive areas like Wayanad. The expert team's findings are expected to provide clarity on the incident and help prevent future disasters.
