Unnecessary controversy over Wayanad rehab loan has to be avoided

The Centre has approved an interest-free loan of Rs 529 crore for rehabilitation work in the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas of Wayanad, which were completely destroyed by the landslide. Kerala had requested a grant of Rs 2022 crore from the Centre to restore Wayanad to its former glory. However, even after eight months of the disaster, the Centre is not ready to provide the assistance requested by the state. The Centre has now come forward with an interest-free loan amid controversies between the state government and the Centre over this. The loan of Rs 529 crore can be repaid in fifty years. This is also the main attraction of the loan.

As usual, this loan promise from the centre has also caused major controversies and anti-centre scolding in the state. The opposition parties, which are even more critical than the ruling party in criticizing and blaming the centre for anything, are not leaving alone the loan promise either. Congress leaders are claiming that the centre is mocking Kerala by providing this loan. There are also those who see it as a challenge to Kerala. In any case, no one has yet said that the central loan should be denied. Everyone knows that the central guideline that the loan of Rs 529 crore should be utilized and accounted for before March 31 is extremely impractical. It is not possible to spend such a large amount in the remaining one and a half months. Even though the centre has put forward such a provision, there is no difficulty in changing it by having diplomatic talks with the relevant people. It is only normal procedure to put forward a deadline for completing any project while allocating money. The deadline can be seen as such in the case of this loan too.

The Union Finance Department can be approached to extend the March 31 deadline. It is rare for a project in the country to be completed within the stipulated deadline. However, the date for its completion is fixed in advance at the stage of project formulation. It does not mean that those in charge will be deported if the project is not completed by the specified date. It is known that every project in the country is completed after being revised several times. Let us take the case of the Vizhinjam project, which has the potential to change the face of Kerala. How many times has the deadline for the completion and inauguration of the port been revised? Is there any history of any five-year project being completed within the predetermined deadline?

The best thing the Kerala government can do is to take the money the Centre has promised and invest it in rehabilitation projects in Wayanad. An extension can be asked if the amount cannot be spent by March 31. There is no reason to not allow it at the moment. The central finance department is well aware that such a huge amount cannot be spent in a month and a half. Therefore, it does not seem like the centre will be able to turn a blind eye to the demand for an extension of time. It may be the politicians' desire to use the loan issue as a weapon for nighttime debates and instil an anti-central attitude among the people. However, debaters should understand the reality that they cannot fool everyone by getting carried away with pointless discussions and controversies.