In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has dismissed an appeal filed by the Prakruthi Samrakshana Samithi (Nature Protection Committee) against the construction of the proposed Wayanad tunnel road project. The Court upheld the earlier decision of the High Court, allowing the project to proceed.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, refused to intervene in the High Court’s order. The petitioners had argued that the project was moving forward without proper environmental clearance. However, the Supreme Court rejected this claim, noting that the project is being implemented based on scientific studies and expert committee reports.
Describing the tunnel project as “important” and a “lifeline of the state,” the Court emphasized that it found no reason to interfere in a plan backed by technical and expert evaluation. It further observed that the High Court had already examined all relevant aspects in detail before issuing its order.
According to submissions made during the hearing, expert committees, along with the Central Government, have concluded that the construction would not pose significant environmental risks. The Court stated that in technical matters, the opinions of experts must be given due weight.
The bench also clarified that if any violation of environmental conditions is observed during the implementation phase, the petitioners are free to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for redressal.
Highlighting practical challenges, the Court noted that governments often face limitations in identifying land for large infrastructure projects. It observed that the tunnel road would provide considerable relief to the public and is unlikely to adversely affect wildlife.
The project has been granted approval with 58 specific conditions to ensure environmental safeguards. Earlier, the petitioners had raised concerns citing past incidents of landslides in the region, including one that reportedly claimed around 400 lives, arguing that the terrain is highly vulnerable.
The Wayanad tunnel road aims to ease traffic congestion along the Thamarassery Ghat pass and significantly reduce travel time between Wayanad and Kozhikode, improving connectivity and safety for commuters.
