DDMA had warned of July 7 debris slip in Wayanad, amicus curiae tells Kerala High Court
An amicus curiae report to the Kerala High Court states that the DDMA had warned about the debris slip in Wayanad before it occurred. The report argues that disaster management authorities have a statutory obligation to oversee development projects regardless of environmental clearances.
Why it matters
It addresses the legal accountability of disaster management agencies in the face of infrastructure development and climate-related risks.
The July 7 debris slip in Wayanad that claimed eight lives had been foreseen, and the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had warned the executing agencies about the accumulation of nearly one lakh cubic metres of excavated earth that ultimately caved in, the amicus curiae has informed the Kerala High Court.
The High Court had initiated suo motu action and appointed Advocate Renjith Thampan as amicus curiae, following the Mundakkai–Chooralmala landslides of 30 July, 2024, to evolve a holistic approach to prevent and manage natural disasters in Kerala.
In its report, the amicus curiae says that the DDMA had also directed that the excavated earth near the twin tube tunnel road project site be removed, to avert a disaster. But the executing agencies did not heed this.
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