Wayanad relief: State to give detailed report to central govt within ten days

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A detailed report regarding the rehabilitation of landslide victims in Wayanad will be forwarded to the central government within ten days. The state will report in detail about the damages incurred.

The Prime Minister, who visited the disaster area on Saturday, had asked the Chief Minister to forward a report to the central government. The words from PM Modi weighed importance and Chief Secretary V Venu didn’t wait before ordering eight departments to prepare reports on urgent basis.

These will be codified under the leadership of the Chief Secretary and will seek approval of the cabinet. The state government in their findings zeroed to a preliminary estimate of Rs 2,000 crore for reconstruction of the disaster-hit area and Rs 1,200 crore for compensation in Wayanad. This estimate has been conveyed to the Prime Minister during his visit to the disaster-hit area on Saturday.

The government will give priority to the rehabilitation of victims before anything. The true extent of the loss can be determined only after a detailed calculation. Kerala will demand funds equal to that allowed for level three national disasters in the country.

The details of the loss of damaged houses and destroyed crops can only be taken from family members and it remains a herculean task.

1. More funds will be allocated from the centre through a rehabilitation scheme. Kerala is demanding the Wayanad landslide be declared a national disaster.
2. The Center will release the amount only in instalments after declaring the total amount. The next installment will be allocated after assessing the progress of the projects being implemented by Kerala.
3. Freeze the debt of the disaster victims and make available new loans.
4. The state government has decided to provide one senior family member from an affected family Rs.300 per day for 30 days. This should be extended to 90 days and the amount should be sanctioned.

Meanwhile, the donation to CMRF for Wayanad relief crossed a humungous Rs 100 crore on Sunday.