New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) The Kerala government has appointed a three-member expert committee to examine and submit a report on the safe removal of soil accumulated at the construction site of the Wayanad Kalladi Tunnel project, Chief Minister V.D Satheesan said.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting attended by the Chief Minister, Home Minister and Public Works Minister following concerns over the accumulated soil and debris at the project site.

Sharing the update, Kerala Chief Minister posted on X: “The Government of Keralam has appointed a 3 member expert committee to submit a report on the safe removal of soil accumulated from the construction of the Wayanad Kalladi Tunnel project. The decision was taken during a high level meeting between the Chief Minister, Home Minister, and Public Works Minister.”

“The committee comprises Dr. Santhosh G. Thampi (Professor, NIT Calicut), Dr. Jude Emmanuel (Environmental Scientist, DoECC – Convenor), and a representative from NCESS,” he added.

The panel will assess the conditions at the site and suggest measures for the safe disposal or removal of the accumulated soil, which has come under scrutiny following the debris slip tragedy in the Kalladi area of Wayanad.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Minister Satheesan had said that the excavated soil and debris stored near the construction site contributed to the debris slip incident, alleging that the contractor company had failed to follow instructions to clear the material.

Speaking to the media after visiting the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) headquarters, CM Satheesan said the Wayanad District Collector and the District Disaster Management Authority had issued directions to the contractor on June 20 to remove the excavated soil from the site.

He said the Public Works Department (PWD) Minister had also instructed the contractor to clear the debris, but the directions were not implemented.

“The accumulated soil had turned muddy. The Disaster Management Authority had specifically ordered its removal after inspecting the site,” he said.

The Chief Minister also raised concerns over safety standards at National Highway construction projects across Kerala, particularly ahead of the monsoon season. He said the state government had convened a meeting with District Collectors and directed them to identify vulnerable locations and carry out inspections.

CM Satheesan added that the government had received complaints regarding alleged lapses in following safety norms at several National Highway construction sites and stressed the need for stricter monitoring to prevent accidents during the rainy season.

The appointment of the expert committee is aimed at ensuring that the accumulated soil at the Kalladi Tunnel project site is removed through a scientifically assessed and safe process while addressing concerns related to construction safety and disaster preparedness.

–IANS

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