A meeting of representatives of the people and political parties and senior officials of various departments here on Thursday urged the Central and State governments to materialise the proposed alternative routes to Wayanad Ghat Road on a war footing.
With the southwest monsoon gathering strength, traffic blocks due to landslips have become a regular affair on the Thamarassery ghat road connecting Wayanad with Kozhikode.
Despite the hue and cry raised by various quarters for an alternative road for connecting Wayanad and Kozhikode districts, nothing has materialised so far, the meeting said.
M.I. Shanavas, MP, said he would exert pressure on the Central government to realise the proposed project.
Centre’s clearance
Mr. Shanavas said that as the proposed routes pass through forest areas he would try to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get the clearance of the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment. He sought partial control of the ghat road section to the Wayanad district administration.
C.K. Saseendran, MLA, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had assured him that all possible measures would be taken to execute the project.
The meeting decided to submit a list of alternative routes to the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister to bring their attention to the issue.
District Collector A.R. Ajayakumar said the district administration would provide all documents for the construction of the alternative routes without delay.
Action council
The meeting constituted an action council for the purpose.
Mr. Shanavas was selected as chairman, Mr. Saseendran, working chairman, I.C. Balakrishnan and O.R. Kelu, MLAs, vice chairmen, and district panchayat president K. Naseema, convener.