Context:
A landslide at Kalladi in Wayanad, Kerala, near the Anakkampoyil – Kalladi – Meppadi tunnel road project, has raised concerns over infrastructure development in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats. Experts attribute the disaster to a combination of intense rainfall, slope modification, tunnelling, and inadequate geological assessment.
Explanation:
- Wayanad lies in the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
- The Anakkampoyil–Kalladi–Meppadi Tunnel Road Project aims to improve connectivity between Kozhikode and Wayanad.
- Landslides occur when soil or rock moves downslope due to gravity, often triggered by intense rainfall, earthquakes, slope cutting, or human activities.
- Tunnelling, excavation, deforestation, and unscientific dumping of excavated material can destabilize hill slopes.
- Climate change is increasing the frequency of short-duration, high-intensity rainfall (cloudbursts) in the Western Ghats, raising landslide risk.
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) evaluates the environmental consequences of major projects before approval, while geological and climate-risk assessments are crucial in fragile mountain ecosystems.
- The incident highlights the need for sustainable infrastructure, strict compliance with EIA conditions, and scientific planning in ecologically sensitive regions.
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Western Ghats Infrastructure: Balancing Development and Ecology