Kerala CM V D Satheesan faces tunnel landslide probe and Adani-MSC share controversy

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan said he was labelled “anti‑development” by the previous Left Democratic Front for opposing the Wayanad Twin Tunnel project without a comprehensive environmental impact assessment. He stressed that the Western Ghats region is ecologically fragile and that the project should only proceed with strict safeguards.

A landslide at the Kalladi tunnel construction site in Wayanad on July 8 killed three workers and left five missing. The state cabinet ordered two separate inquiries – a technical investigation into the cause of the landslide and a legal probe to determine whether the environmental clearance conditions imposed by the centre were complied with. Rescue operations involving the NDRF, SDRF and Kerala police continued, and construction was suspended pending the investigations.

Later, senior CPI(M) leader P Rajeev criticised Satheesan’s remarks about a proposed share transfer between Adani Ports and MSC, accusing the chief minister of making unverified statements and creating a “smokescreen”. Satheesan responded that the previous LDF was aware of the talks and questioned the opposition leader’s own past control of multiple departments, saying, “How can he make such statements? Do we take charge of departments for corruption?”