Houses for Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide victims: Chief Minister lays foundation stone for model township

KALPETTA: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday laid the foundation stone for a model township aimed at rehabilitating the victims of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide disaster in Wayanad. As part of the initiative, houses spanning 1,000 square feet each are being constructed on seven cents of land for the affected families. The government has identified 402 beneficiaries for the rehabilitation project.

Ministers, including K. Rajan, Leader of the Opposition, and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, attended the inauguration ceremony. Beneficiaries and special invitees were also present at the function. Due to an ongoing legal dispute between estate owners and the government over land valuation, 64 hectares of land have been symbolically acquired in compliance with a court order.

The government has acquired 64 hectares of land near the Kalpetta bypass. The township will include facilities such as an Anganwadi (childcare center), a community center, and a primary health center. Minister K. Rajan stated that this marks the beginning of a world-class rehabilitation model and assured that no disaster victim would be left behind. The township concept aims to bring people together. The minister also clarified that the construction of houses was delayed due to legal proceedings.