Thodupuzha: The decision of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to allow the construction company to proceed with road development without conducting a scientific evaluation is alleged to have led to the massive mudslide at Adimaly in Idukki district on Friday night. A man was killed and several houses were destroyed in the incident. According to residents, the mudslide struck Unnathi Lakshamveedu colony on Friday night, even though there was no rainfall at the time.

Following the incident, the District Collector directed the district geologist, hazard analyst, soil conservation officer, district officer of the Ground Water Department, executive engineer of the Public Works Department, executive engineer of the NHAI and the Devikulam tehsildar to inspect the locations on Kochi – Dhanushkodi national highway (NH 85) which are vulnerable to mudslides due to unscientific construction.

The construction firm had initiated blasting of underground rocks at Ettumuri in Adimali, where the latest mudslide occurred, following which the weak topsoil caved in. Currently, a mound of earth approximately 50 feet high has been created at the landslide site. Official sources said the possibility of further mudslides is high in the area.

Incidentally, there were reports that the devastating mudslide at Shirur in Karnataka last year, which attracted widespread attention in Kerala, was caused by construction carried out without giving a slope to the hill adjacent to the national highway.

Documents reveal that mudslides and landslides occur frequently on the Munnar–Bodimettu stretch of the Gap Road under NH 85 because the road was developed without proper scientific studies. Unfortunately, a similar method has been adopted for the ongoing work on the Neriamangalam – Munnar reach.

Construction activities on the Munnar –Bodimettu reach were carried out on an EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) basis, under which NHAI grants approval to start work based solely on the technical details submitted by the contractors. As per this system, road development proceeds even without soil testing in each area, by evaluating the quantity of rock to be blasted and inspecting its nature.

In 2019, the Udumbanchola tahsildar reported that Gap Road was experiencing regular landslides, as the national highway was developed without considering the environmentally fragile condition of the Western Ghats. Illegal extraction and sale of rock worth around Rs 6 crore took place during the construction of the Gap Road after the contractor was allowed a free hand.

Traffic banned on Munnar road

Meanwhile, the authorities have banned all vehicles on the Adimali–Koompanpara stretch of NH 85 due to incessant heavy rain in the region. Vehicles from Adimali to Munnar and in the reverse direction will be diverted along Adimali, Kallarkutty, Vellathooval, Chengulam, Anachal and Randam Mile.