Sat Jul 05 13:55:43 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A public convention in Kozhikode, Kerala, organized by the Kerala Samsthana Janakeeya Prathirodha Samithi, addressed concerns about the environmental and geological impact of the newly constructed national highway. Experts raised issues regarding biased impact assessments, destruction of trees leading to Nipah outbreaks, disrupted water flow, and the destabilization of laterite soil. The convention urged the government to commission an independent study on the highway’s condition and suggested alternative construction methods like viaducts to minimize damage.

**News Article:**

**Kerala Highway Construction Faces Scrutiny Over Environmental Impact**

KOZHIKODE, July 5, 2025 – A public convention in Kozhikode has called for a comprehensive, third-party impact assessment of the newly constructed national highway in Kerala, citing significant environmental and geological concerns.

The Kerala Samsthana Janakeeya Prathirodha Samithi organized the event, bringing together experts who highlighted potential negative consequences of the project. Scientist T.V. Sajeev of the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) criticized the current practice of allowing contractor-appointed agencies to conduct impact assessments, suggesting a bias that undermines the studies’ objectivity.

The widening of National Highway 66 was a key focus, with concerns raised about the felling of approximately 75,000 trees. Mr. Sajeev linked this deforestation to recent Nipah outbreaks, arguing that displaced bat populations were forced into closer proximity with human settlements.

Geologist Radhakrishnan Kinattinkara emphasized the unique characteristics of Kerala’s laterite soil, warning that cutting into hillsides exposes unstable layers, increasing the risk of landslides. He advocated for viaduct construction over traditional embankments to mitigate damage to the region’s geological heritage.

“The topography of Kerala cannot support the kind of construction typically carried out in other States, where there is enough vacant space. This State is narrow, densely populated, and extremely sensitive,” Said Mr. Sajeev

The convention concluded with a demand for the State government to establish an expert committee and conduct a thorough investigation into the highway’s impact, exploring alternative construction approaches to minimize environmental damage.

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