'Give exact figures'; Kerala High Court criticises Centre and state governments for lack of clarity on Wayanad rehabilitation funds

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has directed the central and state governments to stop creating confusion with the figures regarding the rehabilitation of Wayanad landslide victims. The court's stand came in the backdrop of the Centre putting a condition on spending the amount allocated from the National Disaster Response Fund and the state making it clear that there was a "temporary impediment" in spending the amount in the State Disaster Response Fund as per the centre's condition.

Division bench of Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice CP Muhammed Nias asked the finance officer of the State Disaster Management Authority to appear before it on Saturday to clarify the figures.

While the Centre says it has decided to provide an assistance of Rs 153,467 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund as emergency assistance, it has put a conditional on the use of this financial assistance. The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) has Rs 782.99 crore in it. According to the central condition, only if at least half of it is used for the rehabilitation of Wayanad, the Rs 153 crore sanctioned as emergency assistance can be utilised.

The state says there are technical hurdles in utilising the funds in the SDRF. The court said that another tragedy should not be caused in the name of procedures.

The Centre explained that the state should first pay the bill of the Air Force which participated in the rescue operation and it will be refunded. The court observed that there is a difference between giving money directly and reimbursing it. The central government's counsel said that they will inform whether the assistance can be given directly in case of a disaster.

How much was paid, how much is needed?

The state government and the Centre should say exactly how much money has been allocated to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) that can be spent on the rehabilitation of the victims of the Chooralmala and Mundakkai disasters.

The Centre needs to clarify the amount allocated for rehabilitation and reconstruction and whether it has been allowed to be utilised.