Wayanad landslides, climate change; need financial assistance, CM tells Modi

KALPETTA: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow a special financial package for Wayanad, which was hit by a series of landslides. The Cabinet sub-committee stated that the Chief Minister asked the Prime Minister for financial support for Wayanad and assistance to deal with climate change. The ministers also said that an expert team consisting of five people will visit the Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Punchirimattam areas where landslides occurred.

The Chief Minister sought the Centre's assistance in the search for missing persons, removal of building debris and continuing the relief camps. The sub-committee also stated that the Prime Minister has assured the state that the Centre will consider providing assistance in reconstruction, employment and education

The state will hand over a memorandum to the Prime Minister with more accurate figures on the damage caused by the landslides. Various kinds of searches will be carried out tomorrow. The cabinet sub-committee also said that a comprehensive search will be carried out on Monday focusing on the downstream.

The state has incurred a loss of thousands of crores. Global warming and climate change are adversely affecting the state. The recent natural calamities that occurred in Kerala are a result of this. The heatwave reported in the state earlier this year is the first heatwave in the history of Kerala. Kerala needs arrangements to face such natural calamities.