People to be shifted to safer areas; rescue package and rehabilitation master plan for Wayanad

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A rescue package and master plan for the rehabilitation of the disaster victims will happen for the landslide-hit Mundakkai and Attamala areas of Wayanad. However, the families who have no one alive to even receive compensation, and inability to take a total account of the loss of property, will remain as tears of Wayanad.

Those in areas where people's lives are impossible will be resettled in safe places. Govt will provide livelihood to those who have lost their land, houses, agriculture and property. Preliminary assessment is that more than five hundred houses have been destroyed. The government will rebuild all these houses with the help of voluntary organizations and individuals. The government will protect the children who have lost their parents and homes. The decision will be taken in the upcoming cabinet meetings.

The priority now is the rescue and recovery of bodies. The rescue mission will continue until the last person is found. Not even a preliminary estimate of the damage could be done. Information about damaged houses is available in panchayats, information about land is available in village offices and information about crops is available in agricultural houses. All these departments are part of the rescue mission. There are many families where all members have died. More than 70 unidentified bodies are being buried in public cemeteries. 133 body parts have been preserved for post-mortem and DNA testing.

The big challenge is the complete reconstructed of two areas. Safe places should be found avoiding areas prone to landslides. Everything should be set up, including schools and public distribution. NSS units in educational institutions will construct 150 houses. Industrialists and expatriates have expressed their willingness to build houses. All these should be included in the rehabilitation plan of the government. Police Housing Co-operative Society will provide land and houses to three policemen who lost everything.

The government is also considering the resettlement of people living in nearby landslide-warned areas.

Disaster affected villages to avoid red tape

• Kottappady, Vellarmala and Thrikkaipatta villages in Meppadi will be declared disaster-hit with effect from July 30. This is to give compensation to those who have lost everything, including documents, without applications getting stuck in red tape.
• All the departments can be coordinated and the procedures can be completed quickly.
• Compensation will be provided on the basis of the report of the village officer without submitting the documents.