KOCHI: The completion of the four-lane road connecting ICTT to NH 47 at Kalamassery, may get delayed as the Edakkattuvayal Panchayat has raised an objection to the soil mining in Edakkattuvayal.The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has set up a quarry in Edakkattuvayal near Muvattupuzha, to meet the soil requirement for construction of the road. Soil is essential for the construction of the road as most part of the road passes through the reclaimed land. “This is an example of how a local body can interrupt the progress of a mega project,” said the officials from Soma Constructions, which has undertaken the work for the NHAI. Though, the ICTT was commissioned in February this year, only two lanes of the road have been completed so far. The NHAI is to complete the construction of the nine kilometre stretch from Mollampilly to ICTT. The construction of a bridge parallel to the existing Goshree bridge has been completed and is expected to be finished by December,” they said.According to the Soma Constructions officials, they started mining only after getting all required clearances from the Pollution Control Board (PCB) and RDO. The final sanction was given by the then-District Collector M Beena. “The panchayat came up with the objection citing environmental reasons much later. The local people under the aegis of the panchayat launched an agitation too. This has forced us to procure soil at a higher price to ensure that work is not affected,” they said.Presently, the transportation of soil from Edakkattuvayal is on a standstill. Around 3,40,000 cubic metres of sand ( at least 400 truck loads per day) of soil is needed to complete the work before next monsoon. The company has not taken soil from Edakkattuvayal since May. “The quarry is now being inspected by a team of Geology experts. We expect to solve the issue with a favourable report from the expert team. Currently, a soil stability test is being conducted at the worksite,” said C T Abraham, director of NHAI.
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