Prevention of Wyanad Landslide

Key Points

• Wayanad is an ecologically fragile area and a geologically unstable terrain supporting a sizeable population much above the carrying capacity of such vulnerable terrain including four castes from the Scheduled Tribes. This landscape is situated adjacent to the significant Protected Areas of South India like Bramhagiri, Bandipur, Mudumalai, New Amarambalam, Silent Valley, Aralam, Kottiyoor and Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary. The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary within the District has caught national attention due to the incessant human-wildlife conflicts continuing for more than three decades. Added to this, the people of Wayanad are facing the most unpredictable threats from natural calamities like torrential rains, floods, landslides and even draughts due to climate change effects.
  Redressals to their grievances are at a very slow pace and in many cases, sheer negligence could be noticed from the concerned authorities. Adding insult to injury, the people of Wayanad are quite often denied of their legitimate rights of free movement and basic developments on the grounds of environmental protection.
  Considering the above-mentioned facts, we request the Authorities that Wayanad District should be declared as a “Prominent Mitigation Zone” with respect to rescue operations, compensation distribution and all other rehabilitation measures. If regular funds are exhausting, the rules need to be amended to meet the relief expenditure from CMDRF or PM CARE Funds.
• Wayanad depends on farming for survival and livelihood. The farmers are in deep distress due to cyclic crop loss for reasons beyond their control like wildlife conflicts and issues related to climate change factors etc. Added to this, lack of accessibility to free markets causes heavy loss to farmers. Wayanad is a district, well known for cash crops and the biodiversity wealth. Unfortunately, the farming potential of the district is not adequately utilized either at National level or at State level.
  The need of the hour is to make use of the heavy potential of Wayanad District in agricultural products by preparing an integrated masterplan with the help of agricultural experts of the Nation as well as the State, after interacting with local farmers. The plan should ensure successful marketing strategy also.
• The Railway Ministry has arranged for the survey of Nilambur- Nanjangund line passing through Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forests of Wayanad and Nilambur. The recent landslips of Meppady region and the 2019 landslides have occurred in this zone where the rail line alignment passes.
  Hence this Organization respectfully submits that alternative routes may be examined for rail connectivity from Mysore to North Kerala, such as the Quilandy- Kadakole route where the impact will be much lesser.
• A survey for constructing a tunnel road from Wayanad District to Kozhikode District is being undertaken via Meppady, the disaster-prone zone. The construction of such a tunnel in this region may result in another huge disaster.
  Hence, this Organization requests that an alternative route may be identified to have an additional road connectivity to Kozhikode. The earlier proposal for Poozhithode-Chakkittapara-Kozhikode route was shelved due to objections from the Forest Department. Weighing the environmental impact on both the routes, the route with lesser environmental impact may be selected, taking into consideration the basic rights of the people of Wayanad.
• Night traffic is banned along the Muthanga-Gundelpet stretch of Kozhikode Kollegal National Highway passing through Wayanad and Bandipur Protected Areas. This stretch of the road may be fenced on either side and sufficient underpasses and animal walkover corridors may be provided to protect the wildlife from casualties, day and night. It is heard that such works are done in India in places like Pench Tiger Reserve for National Highway.
  Similarly, all the identified elephant corridors may be fenced at road crosses and elevated roads constructed across such corridors in Wayanad.
• The issues related to forest encroachments are swept under the carpet by almost all political parties of Wayanad. Perhaps this is the only district in Kerala where the tribal people were encouraged and supported by certain political parties for encroaching forest lands. This trend was initiated in 2002-2003 and large extents of tribal encroachments were suo moto regularized with the enactment of the Forest Rights Act 2006. Even after this, encroachment continued and no efforts were taken so far to evict such encroachers. It is not known if cases are even registered against the accused. This tantamounts to anarchy in the Forest Department supported by the deadly silence of the ruling parties and the Governments. REEP FOUNDATION brings this alarming case before the authorities through this resolution.
• There is a tendency to penetrate deep inside forest areas in the name of tourism promotion labelled as eco-tourism. This tendency needs to be curbed and tourism zones should be identified strictly on the advice of Wildlife experts.
  The Resorts and Homestays mushroomed in Wayanad District need to be identified and evaluated with respect to environmental issues and risk factors. The license for running such institutions should be on such ground assessments.
• We further submit that there should be a permanent system of interaction, communication and execution with respect to wildlife management between the Protected Areas of Nagerhole, Bandipur, Mudumalai and Wayanad through an Interstate Office Corridor system. This is very much required to mitigate human-wild animal conflicts.

We respectfully submit this resolution before the Honorable Prime Minister of India and other concerned Authorities for immediate relief to the people of Wayanad.

Prevention of Wyanad Landslide

REEP FOUNDATION