Pinarayi Vijayan defends tunnel project clearances; blames administrative negligence for Wayanad disaster
Kerala Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the State government, terming the recent Wayanad debris slip disaster “a
Kerala Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the State government, terming the recent Wayanad debris slip disaster “a result of grave administrative negligence.” He made strong remarks against Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and the Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) after visiting the affected areas, a relief camp, and the private medical college where survivors were admitted. Accusing the disaster management authorities of failing to respond to extreme weather warnings, Mr. Vijayan strongly defended the environmental clearances obtained for the proposed ₹2,243-crore twin-tube tunnel road project, asserting that they were secured strictly through proper and legitimate institutional channels. Addressing a press conference after the field visit, the Opposition Leader expressed condolences to the bereaved families and pledged the Opposition’s full support for relief operations. However, he raised serious concerns over the lack of basic amenities, including clothing, in relief camps, urging the government to address these shortages immediately.
Vijayan alleged that despite Wayanad experiencing heavy rainfall two days prior to the tragedy, the District Disaster Management Authority failed to issue a timely red alert. “On the day of the disaster, the region recorded 266 mm of rainfall, which falls well above the Central threshold of 244.4 mm for extreme rainfall. Yet, only a yellow alert was sounded. This was a grave lapse in safety protocol,” he claimed. He revealed that a DDMA meeting on June 20 had explicitly warned of potential debris flows and mudslides, recommending the immediate relocation of excavated soil and debris to safer zones. A subsequent high-level Public Works Department (PWD) inspection on June 25 also flagged those hazards. “The government’s failure to initiate any follow-up action over these two weeks constitutes punishable negligence,” Mr. Vijayan added, calling for a comprehensive investigation. Turning his focus to the controversial tunnel road project, the Opposition Leader countered allegations made by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan regarding alleged irregularities in securing clearances.
Mr. Vijayan dismissed the Chief Minister’s statements as “incorrect and misleading,” designed to deviate attention from administrative failures. “The propagation that environmental clearance was secured through external pressure is an insult to the judiciary,” Mr. Vijayan asserted, reiterating that the project had undergone rigorous regulatory and legal scrutiny. Confirming that the environmental clearance was secured through the proper channels, Mr. Vijayan narrated the multi-layered approval process that began in 2022 with a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment conducted across Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. This was followed by all legal public hearings conducted by the respective District Collectors in 2023, which successfully enabled both the State and Central appraisal committees to grant final clearance. He pointed out that the project later withstood intense legal challenges when the High Court dismissed petitions filed by various green forums in December 2025, a verdict that fully endorsed the validity of the environmental clearance.
The BriefWire