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The Kerala government on Saturday ordered constitution of a five-member expert panel to enquire into the reasons for the landslide at the Wayanad tunnel project site. The panel will enquire whether the contractor has violated the contract conditions and will also look into the environment and forest clearances given to the project by the state and the Centre. The panel comprises Dr C P Rajendran (geologist), Dr Vishnudas (ecologist), Dr P Pugazhendi (Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala), Secretary of Public Works Department (PWD) and Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department who will also be the convenor, the order said. It said that the convenor may co-opt experts as members if deemed necessary. The terms of reference of the panel are to identify the causes of the accident, examine whether the contractor has violated the contract conditions and look into the environment and forest clearances given by the state and the Centre and to submit a report within a month, the .
One more body was recovered from the Wayanad landslide site bringing the total number of persons killed in the disaster to four, Kerala Minister A P Anilkumar said. The minister told reporters here that the body was recovered from zone 1 of the search area in the morning. "Searches will be carried out in zone 1 and 2 of the area. Will be focusing search operations near the river also," he said. A landslide had occurred on July 7 at the site of the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel project for connecting Wayanad and Kozhikode districts. Now four persons remain missing. Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday had said that search operations will be given priority. He had also said that of the 10 persons injured in the incident, three were discharged, four were still hospitalised but stable and three others were in the ICU of whom two were critical.
CPI MLA K Rajan on Saturday said the party continues to stand by its demand for the post of Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly. The CPI, the second-largest constituent of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), has been pressing for the post since the new Assembly session commenced following the recent elections. Speaking to reporters, the former minister said the party's stand on the issue remains unchanged. "You may not have heard my name being discussed for the post. But the party has raised the demand for the post. The party secretary has stated our position and we continue to stick to that stand," Rajan said. Asked about the delay in convening an LDF meeting after the alliance's electoral defeat, Rajan said it was for the LDF convener to convene the meeting. "It had been decided that the LDF meeting would be held in mid-June after discussions with the constituent parties. There could have been other engagements, including the Assembly session. The LDF
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday said Adani Ports cannot transfer its shares in the Vizhinjam International Seaport here without the prior approval of the state government. Replying to a question in the Assembly, he said there have been media reports regarding the proposed stake transfer, but the company has not approached the government seeking approval. "As per the agreement, they cannot transfer these shares without the government's approval. The approval of the State Government is mandatory, and in certain matters, the approval of the Central Government is also required," Satheesan said. He said no request seeking such approval has been received by the government so far. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) on Tuesday said Switzerland-based MSC, the world's largest shipping transport and logistics conglomerate, will acquire a 49 per cent stake in its Vizhinjam port in Kerala for about USD 1.4 billion. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) will make the