Wayanad rehabilitation: No need to argue over Centre's interest-free loan

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 in the landslide. Kerala had requested a grant of Rs 2022 crore from the Centre to bring Wayanad back to its former condition. However, even after eight months of the disaster, the Centre has not been ready to provide the assistance requested by the state. The Centre has now come forward with an interest-free loan amid discord between the state government and the Centre over this. The loan of Rs 529 crore can be repaid in fifty years. This is the main advantage of the loan.

As expected, this loan promised by the Centre has caused major discord and anti-Centre sentiments in the state. The opposition parties, which usually criticise the Centre even more than the ruling parties, have also criticised the loan assistance scheme put forward by the Centre. Congress leaders say that the Centre is mocking Kerala by providing this loan. There are those who see it as the Centre's threat to Kerala. In any case, no one has said that the central loan should be denied so far. Everyone knows that the central guideline that the Rs 529 crore provided as a loan to be utilised and accounted for before March 31 is extremely impractical. It is not possible to spend such a huge amount in the next one and a half months. Even if the Centre has put forward such a provision, there is no difficulty in changing it after consulting with the concerned parties. It is only normal to put forward a deadline for completion of the concerned project while allocating money. This is true for the case of this loan too.

The Ministry of Finance can be approached to extend the March 31 deadline. It is rare for any project in the country to be completed within the time limit specified at the beginning. However, it is a custom to set a proposed date of completion while formulating any project. This does not mean that if the project is not completed by that date, those in charge will be deported.

It is a fact that all projects in the country are completed after being revised many times. Take, for example, the Vizhinjam project, which holds the potential to significantly elevate Kerala's economic standing. The completion and inauguration dates for the port have been revised numerous times. Furthermore, has any five-year plan ever been completed within its originally scheduled timeframe?

Now, the Kerala government could take the money that has been promised and invest it in the rehabilitation projects in Wayanad. If the amount cannot be spent by March 31, then ask for an extension of time. There is no indication at the moment where such a request would not be allowed. The Union Finance Department also knows very well that such a huge amount could not be spent in one and a half months. Therefore, it is not likely that the Centre could refuse the request for an extension of time. It may be the need of politicians to use the loan issue as a weapon for debate and instill an anti-Centre attitude among people. However, those who raise such objections and debate on such issues should also understand the reality that they cannot fool everyone by engaging in pointless discussions and controversies.