Not time for blame game over Wayanad tunnel tragedy: CPI(M) leader Riyas

Kozhikode (Kerala), Jul 8 (PTI) CPI(M) leader P A Muhammad Riyas on Wednesday said this was not the time for a blame game over the Wayanad tunnel project tragedy and called for a coordinated response by the Kerala government to ensure rescue operations continue effectively. Speaking to reporters before leaving for Kalladi, where a rain-triggered collapse of a mound of excavated earth at a road tunnel project site claimed at least three lives while five others remained missing, Riyas said that CM V D Satheesan and ministers should exercise restraint while making public statements on such incidents. “Realising the importance of the positions they hold, the statements made and the stand taken should reflect that responsibility. This is not the time to speak about lapses. But the statements made by Satheesan, ministers, and UDF leaders have forced us to respond,” he said. Riyas said that one minister had termed the incident a “man-made disaster”, while another claimed that the department concerned was not responsible for it. He alleged that yet another minister had blamed the previous government for the tragedy. “The CM said the contractor was responsible. He is the person to whom people turn with their grievances. But here, the CM himself has become a complainant by saying that the contractor alone is responsible for the tragedy,” he said. He said that if the contractor had failed to remove the excavated earth from the site, it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that it was removed. “If the contractor did not remove the earth, it was the responsibility of the government to have it removed. The CM, who coordinates various departments, should lead such efforts,” he said. Riyas said that if the contractor had repeatedly failed to remove the excavated earth despite directions, the government should have invoked the provisions of the Disaster Management Act. “If the contractor did not remove the earth, it could have been removed through other agencies at the contractor’s expense. Other stringent action could also have been taken. Isn’t that the responsibility of the government?” he asked. Riyas claimed that during one of the review meetings, the contractor had cited a lack of space to dump the excavated earth and had sought the allotment of land for the purpose. “What action was taken then? Why was land not allotted even after two weeks of the request?” he asked. Riyas said the issue should not be reduced to a political war of words. “There should be an effort to coordinate everyone rather than engage in a war of statements,” he said. He said he was not blaming anyone for the accident but wanted the chief minister and ministers to exercise greater caution while commenting on the incident. “They are washing their hands of the issue and blaming other departments. We want a coordinated effort,” he said. Rejecting V D Satheesan’s allegation that environmental clearance for the road tunnel project was obtained under pressure during the LDF government’s tenure, Riyas termed the charge baseless. “It is not like getting the CM’s chair after exerting pressure. Such statements do not deserve a response,” he said. He said it was inappropriate for ministers to publicly blame one another or different departments at a time when rescue operations were under way. PTI TBA SSK