A fact-finding team under the district environmental coordination committee has warned of irreversible ecological damage due to national highway development works across mangrove-rich wetland zones in district. The team’s report is on the second phase of its study from the Taliparamba bus stand.

In the first phase, the team had carried out a study from Kariyamkod to Pattuvam and urged authorities to suspend all construction activities, except essential disaster relief, following the collapse of portions of the National Highway after the monsoon onset.

The report says road construction, especially on the Pulluppikadavu- Kattampally stretch, is destroying wetland ecosystems similar in biodiversity to rainforests. Mangrove forests vital to fish breeding, ecological balance, and livelihood support are being lost permanently, with no restoration plans in place. 

The second phase study was inaugurated by Society for Environmental Education in Kerala Director T.P Padmanabhan

The study has accused the National Highways Authority of India of failing to account for the destruction of tens of thousands of mangrove trees.

Convener K. Karunakaran, citing the report, says the road passes through swampy terrain from Pappinissery island to Muzhappilangad, where low grade silt has been used to fill mangrove swamps, raising fears of soil instability. The panel calls for halting work in these areas until fresh geotechnical studies and reinspection. 

He says construction-related waterlogging has impacted areas such as Keezhattoor and Muzhappilangad. Heavy rain has led to rainwater mixing with toilet waste contaminating wells . Many trees have withered due to chemical contamination of soil. Additionally, defects have been identified in the construction of protective walls, underpasses, and overbridges. 

The team found that several underpasses have been built lower than adjacent roads, making them unusable for large vehicles.

“The NH has been developed without factoring in the natural topography, stream direction, or water flow. In the context of climate change and erratic rainfall, this creates dangerous scenarios,” it says. Blocked drains and covered channels have worsened waterlogging. 

Changes in water flow towards the west also pose treat of saltwater intrusion during high tide, potentially affecting drinking water sources and agriculture. The team has recommended a full-fledged water audit. 

The report proposes a viaduct-like road in ecologically fragile areas such as Pappinissery island- Pulluppikadavu, which includes the Munderi Kadavu bird sanctuary, a proposed Ramsar site. The present embankment style method, it says will be do irreversible harm. 

The preliminary findings list widespread habitat destruction, waterlogging, water pollution, landslides and denial of public infrastructure. The report urges that all anomalies be rectified and that local needs be prioritised before construction resumes.

Mr. Karunakaran stated that a comprehensive report would be published soon and representations would be submitted at multiple administrative levels.