Kerala HC directs KSDMA to conduct hazard checks at places similar to Wayanad debris slip site
The Kerala High Court has ordered the State Disaster Management Authority to conduct hazard assessments at sites similar to the Wayanad debris slip location. The court emphasized that the state cannot evade responsibility for environmental safety in construction zones.
Why it matters
This reflects increasing judicial intervention in environmental management and disaster prevention in India following tragic landslides.
The Kerala High Court (HC) has directed the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) to conduct hazard sweeps of landslide-prone sites similar to the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel, where a debris slip caused the loss of eight lives and injured 10 people.
The court was considering a suo motu petition initiated to monitor the progress of victim compensation and the inquiry into the Chooralmala landslide of 2024 and the Kalladi debris slip.
The Division Bench of Justices A.K. Jayasankar and A.K. Preeta pointed out that the State Disaster Management Authority could not shirk responsibility for such an incident, saying that environmental clearance was granted for the construction since precautionary principles still governed environmental matters.
The court further remarked that the State should look into the person or authority on whom the responsibility for the tragedy should be cast.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in