Thiruvananthapuram: State govt has constituted an expert committee to investigate the July 7 landslip at the construction site of the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi twin-tunnel road project in Wayanad. The committee will also inquire into the environmental and forest clearances granted for the project, including the environmental clearances issued by state and central govts and forest clearance granted by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.The committee, comprising geologist C P Rajendran, ecologist Vishnudas, chief wildlife warden P Pugazhendi, the secretary of the public works department and secretary of the revenue and disaster management department (convener), has been asked to submit its report within a month. The landslip claimed seven lives, while one person remains missing.The committee will also examine the causes of the accident and determine whether contractor Dilip Buildcon Ltd violated any contractual conditions. Meanwhile, govt announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh from the chief minister’s distress relief fund (CMDRF) for the dependants of those who lost their lives in the landslip.
