Kalpetta: Post flood, the premises of tourism destinations of Wayanad are facing intense construction work as many projects, earlier suspended midway due to hostile climactic conditions have, resumed. The premises of major destinations of Wayanad including the Pookkode lake, Karlad lake, Edakkal caves and Banasura Sagar dam are witnessing busy construction works.
At Karlad, construction of a resort is taking place close to the lake while at the Banasura Sagar Dam premises, construction of new projects are in full swing even on landslide prone zones.
Environmental activists alleged that majority of these constructions are taken up violating all norms. Though the revenue officials issued stop memos for construction at some sites, the works are going on in collusion with the officials, it was pointed out.
Environmental activist C.S. Dharmaraj told DC that it is a free-for-all in the areas adjacent to tourism spots of Wayanad as there is none to monitor the violations.
“Even the state is leading the destruction of nature by implementing its own tourism project En Ooru at the grassland rich hillocks of Lakkidy, an ecologically sensitive spot,” he added.
“With the rains subsiding, hectic activity is also visible even in remote trekking routes and visually rich zones,” he said.
It is to be recalled that the district had witnessed a series of landslides and flashfloods during the peak of monsoon. The rampant construction is happening at a time the district administration is mooting bringing out guidelines for constructions in the district.
The district administration had two years ago imposed a blanket ban on construction of highrise buildings in the district after experts suggested banning them in the ecologically sensitive areas of Western Ghats.
