Kerala tunnel road project: Union government grants final clearance

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest has accorded the final stage-II clearance for the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel road project, a flagship infrastructure initiative of the Kerala government. The clearance permits the conversion of 17.26 hectares of forest land under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for the project execution.

The Ministry has also laid down 24 stringent conditions for the project execution without harming the nature and the ecosystem around. It includes clear demarcation of the converted forest land at the project cost, undertaking compensatory afforestation on an equivalent extent of non-forest land, and planting at least 1,000 saplings per hectare within two years.

The order also insisted on minimising tree felling, strict compliance with wildlife protection measures and adherence to all conditions laid down in the environmental clearance.

In the latest order, the Ministry has barred the setting up of labour camps within the forest land and prohibited the creation of new access roads through forest areas for transporting construction materials.

The diverted forest land should not be used for any purpose other than that specified in the project proposal. The Divisional Forest Officer has been tasked with monitoring the implementation of the project.

According to Public Works department (PWD0 officials, the 8.73-km tunnel road connecting Wayanad and Kozhikode districts is among the largest infrastructure development projects in Kerala. They said the construction is progressing at a rapid pace.

The project execution, supervised by the PWD, is being financed by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, the special purpose vehicle (SPV), for the project, is responsible for its execution and implementation.

As per the construction agreement, the project is slated for completion within four years. The contract had been earlier awarded to Bhopal-based Dilip Buildcon, and Royal Infrastructure, headquartered in Kolkata. The total project cost is estimated at ₹2,134.5 crore, the officials said.