Reckless extravagance behind the veil of Wayanad landslides? Govt in a tough spot after Rs 1202 crore news surfaces

KOCHI: The Kerala government stepped into a muddle soon after the cost-related information from the affidavit submitted to the High Court came out. In the affidavit, the government estimated Rs 1,202 was spent during the Wayanad landslide rescue mission.

From the affidavit:

Rs 75,000 for the cremation of one dead body. So Rs 2.77 crore has been allocated for 359 dead bodies. Overall vehicle charges of Rs 12 crores, for evacuating landslide victims to safer areas. It is recorded that 15 crores have been spent on earthmoving vehicles. Those who voluntarily came with earthmoving vehicles only demanded fuel costs.

Rs 6.5 crore for food, accommodation and travel expenses of rescue workers. Rs 17 crore for the Air Force’s airlifting mission, which the government might have to pay in the future. One crore for the construction of the Bailey Bridge built by the army.

Rs 7 crore for generators, Rs 3 crore for drones and Rs 2.02 crore for health care of government volunteers.

• Number of rescue workers including the army and volunteers: 5,000.

• Destroyed houses: 2,007

• people who reached the camp: 4102

Meanwhile, there is Rs 14.36 crore allocated for the dependents of the deceased, Rs 17.5 crore for over 300 injured and Rs 14 crore for subsistence allowance.

1. This information is contained in the affidavit filed in the case taken voluntarily by the High Court following the Wayanad disaster. The 'Memorandum - Kerala' document prepared for central assistance was submitted on August 23.

2. The Disaster Management Authority explained this as not the actual amount spent, but only an estimate prepared as per central norms, after assessing the magnitude of the disaster.

Meanwhile, CM Pinarayi Vijayan termed the news baseless and accused the media of misrepresenting the information in the affidavit.

Press release issued by CM's office

'News reports in the media regarding the amount spent on various items related to the Wayanad disaster are factually incorrect. The state government had submitted a memorandum to the central government seeking emergency additional assistance for the disaster. The memorandum mentioned preliminary estimates of expenses required for various purposes. However, the media is now misrepresenting those estimates as the actual amount spent in the disaster-affected area. The requirements mentioned in the memorandum, prepared in accordance with the guidelines of the National Disaster Response Fund, are being mispresented. This approach undermines the state government's efforts to secure central assistance related to the Wayanad landslide disaster.