MoEF raises questions on NH widening works on forest stretch

Even as the National Highways Authority of India is continuing construction works on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has stated that permission has not yet been granted for expansion works on a 14.5-km stretch forest area.

Sources said the MoEF received many complaints after road widening works began on the forest stretch. On June 27, the MoEF sent a notice to the Kerala State Pollution Control Board stating it had no records of granting permission for construction works and requested that the board submit a report after investigation.

Road widening works are on the 14.5-km Neriamangalam, Valara, and Adimaly stretch, which is at the intersection of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway.

On May 30, 2024 a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court had issued a directive that the Forest department should not interfere in the widening of the road stretch. The order came on a petition by five Idukki residents.

Environmentalist M.N. Jayachandran approached the High Court stating that the NHAI was continuing road widening works on the forest stretch and was felling trees without permission from the MoEF. The High Court will consider the case on July 7.

Mr. Jayachandran said the road widening works through the forest land were being undertaken without MoEF permission and would result in loss of public money. “The MoEF letter to the State pollution control board clearly states that construction works are continuing on the forest stretch without approval,” he said.

Idukki Land Freedom Movement convener Dias Pullan alleged that the Forest department was behind environmental organisations filing a case in the High Court to block road construction works.

“The High Court in May 2024 ordered that the Forest department should not interfere in the construction works of the road. Now, some groups were trying to block road development on the stretch,” he said.

“We have requested Dean Kuriakose, MP, and Idukki District Collector V. Vigneshwari to intervene in the issue,” said Mr. Pullan.