Distortion of facts: Vijayan rejects Kerala CM's claims on Wayanad tunnel clearance
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday rejected Chief Minister VD Satheesan's remarks on the environmental clearance granted to the proposed Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel road
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday rejected Chief Minister VD Satheesan's remarks on the environmental clearance granted to the proposed Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel road project, asserting that the approval process was transparent and legally valid while accusing the government of trying to deflect attention from alleged lapses in handling the Wayanad landslide. After visiting the landslide-hit site in Wayanad, Vijayan said he welcomed the government's decision to order an inquiry into the July 7 disaster but alleged that attempts were being made to mislead the public by distorting facts. Read Full Story The landslide at the tunnel project site has claimed six lives so far, with district officials recovering three more bodies on Thursday. Addressing reporters, the former chief minister said the environmental impact assessment for the tunnel project was completed in 2023 following due process, after which the project secured environmental clearances from both the state and the Centre.
He said the Kerala High Court had dismissed petitions challenging the environmental clearance on December 16, 2025, and that the decision was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court. "Everything was done with transparency," Vijayan said, rejecting allegations that the environmental clearance had been obtained through political pressure and arguing that the courts had already upheld the approval process. He accused the government of attempting to shift blame to avoid accountability for the tragedy and alleged that unnecessary controversy was being created around the project to cover up administrative failures. Vijayan also questioned the state's disaster preparedness, alleging that despite heavy rainfall in the region, adequate precautionary measures were not taken. He asked why no effective advance warning had been issued before the landslide and claimed that only a yellow alert was in force before the incident, while a red alert was issued only after the disaster, citing media reports.
He further alleged that water had flowed through mounds of excavated soil dumped at the construction site and that earlier directions to remove the accumulated earth were not implemented. According to him, both the government and the authorities failed to act on recommendations and take timely preventive measures. During his visit, Vijayan met families staying at a relief camp and assured them of the opposition's support in rehabilitation efforts. Describing the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel road as a project with "immense development potential", he said it was crucial for Kerala's future and should be completed without delay. On Wednesday, Chief Minister V D Satheesan had said the government would conduct a detailed probe into the causes of the landslide and examine whether the conditions imposed by the Union government while granting environmental clearance had been complied with by the construction company.
The BriefWire