Thiruvananthapuram, July 8 -- Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Wednesday said he had faced severe criticism from the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for opposing the Wayanad Twin Tunnel Project without a comprehensive environmental impact assessment, asserting that he had only sought greater caution given the ecological sensitivity of the Western Ghats.

Addressing the media, Satheesan said he had consistently maintained that the tunnel project should not proceed without a detailed environmental study and alleged that the CPI(M) had portrayed him as "anti-development" for raising concerns.

"I was the person who faced the most criticism over this issue. I had consistently said that the project should not proceed with...