A special cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday focused on speeding up the rehabilitation of families displaced by the devastating landslides in Wayanad.
Chief Secretary Sharda Muralidharan presented a draft rehabilitation plan which reportedly includes proposals from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for construction of 1,000 square feet single-storey houses for survivors from Mundakkai and Choralmala. Landslides in July.
In the initial phase, the rehabilitation strategy is expected to prioritize those who have lost their homes. The government also plans to convene a meeting chaired by the chief minister with colleagues and organizations that have pledged to support the reconstruction effort.
Also, a dedicated panel will oversee the development of the proposed townships and the land acquisition process will be expedited to start construction at the earliest.
Final decision
According to official sources, the final decision on the proposed plan will be taken in the upcoming cabinet meeting.
After a special cabinet meeting recently released the first draft list of 388 beneficiaries by the Wayanad district administration. The alleged ostracism of affected families and the repetition of names has sparked protests, with many survivors staging a dharna in Mepadi.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government is facing increasing pressure over delays in restoration efforts. Adding to the challenge, land identified for permanent resettlement near Nedumbala and Kalpeta is mired in legal disputes.
Demand for central support
Moreover, repeated requests by the government for a special recovery and reconstruction package of ₹ 2,219 crore from the central government have not elicited any response. Recently, this issue was raised in the winter session of Parliament. A delegation of Kerala MPs led by Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking the Centre’s support.
published – 22nd December, 2024 10:00 hrs IST