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Landslides halt Kuthiran tunnels work

The works of the left tunnel have been almost completed, and lighting and the ventilation works of the right tunnel were going on.

Thrissur: Landslides continued for the second consecutive day on the face of the Kuthiran tunnels on Mannuthy-Vadakkencherry Highway on Thursday.

Soil, rocks and trees from the Kuthiran Mountain which started sliding down to the face of the Left Tube Tunnel have now reached the right tunnel as well.

The avalanche started after the heavy rains on Wednesday night, and parts of the mountain above the tunnel on the Palakkad side were coming down in portions.

The works of the left tunnel have been almost completed, and lighting and the ventilation works of the right tunnel were going on. Due to the landslide, the works inside the tunnels have been called off.

According to Krishnam Raju, the director of Mumbai-based Prakrithi Engineering, the subcontractors, water percolating through the natural pits in the forest above were causing the landslide.

The company had placed a request before the forest department to build a stormwater drain in this area so that the rainwater could flow safely down the mountain.

“The request was placed through the main contractor KMC, but the forest department has not yet given any reply,” he said.

The total tunnel project has now cost Rs 170 crore, and Rs 50 crore dues were yet to be paid.

“The plan was to open both the tunnels by September, but due to the delay in payment, the completion of the final works will be further extended,” he said.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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