wayanad

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central government has sanctioned a capital investment loan of Rs 529.50 crore for the rehabilitation of Wayanad. The loan has been sanctioned for 16 projects including townships. The interest-free loan has to be repaid in 50 years. The center sent a letter to the additional chief secretary of the finance department in this regard.

The central assistance is for the reconstruction of public buildings, roads, bridges and schools in the townships where the disaster victims are being rehabilitated. The center has directed to use the money by March 31. The response of finance department sources is that the proposal to show the expenditure after allocating the money at the end of the financial year is not practical.

Finance Minister K N Balagopal told media that it is not practical to spend the money completely within the time limit. 'We had requested assistance as grant to solve the loss caused by the landslides in Mundakkai and Chooralmala. However, the center did not sanction the money that way. Anyway, we are moving forward with the activities, this amount could have been allocated a little earlier. Any state that suffers such a disaster should be given special assistance. The Centre has not done so. The finance department is in the process of spending the money properly,' the minister said.

T Siddique MLA also criticized the Centre for granting loans for rehabilitation with conditions. Siddique said granting money with conditions was completely unfair. ‘This approach of the central government is inhumane. The approach of the central government, which shows the nature of a landlord in giving money, cannot be accepted even once. Kerala will stand united to change this stance of the central government,' he added.