Thiruvananthapuram: State govt has constituted an expert committee to investigate the July 7 landslip at Kalladi in Wayanad. The committee, comprising geologist C P Rajendran, ecologist Vishnudas, chief wildlife warden P Pugazhendi, the secretary of the public works department and secretary of revenue and disaster management department (convener), has been asked to submit its report within one month.The landslip, which occurred at the construction site of the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi twin-tunnel road project, claimed seven lives, while one person is still missing.The committee has been tasked with examining the causes of the accident, determining whether the contractor, Dilip Buildcon Ltd, violated any contract conditions, and reviewing the environmental and forest clearances granted for the project. This includes the environmental clearances issued by the state and central govts and forest clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.Govt also announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh from the chief minister’s distress relief fund (CMDRF) for the dependents of those who lost their lives in the landslip. According to a govt release, financial assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh for medical treatment, depending on the nature of the injuries, will also be sanctioned for the injured. (With agency inputs)
