MEPPADI: People affected in the Wayanad landslide disaster protested by building huts and cooking rice. They were protesting over the delay in rehabilitation projects. The protest is being led by the Janashabdam Action Committee. Yesterday morning, the disaster victims who had come from Chooralmala in a demonstration were stopped by the police near Bailey Bridge. This was followed by verbal and physical clashes.

Tension prevailed in the area for half an hour. Following the possibility of a clash, a large police team led by Meppadi CI A.U. Jayaprakash was present at the spot. The protesters reached the disaster area through a different route and built huts. The protesters said that they would build more huts in the coming days. Many of them burst into tears. They are currently staying in rented accommodation in various places in Wayanad.

Meanwhile, there is a widespread complaint against the second draft list for the rehabilitation of the affected people. 81 families from the no-go zone in the disaster area are on the list. 42 families from the 10th ward, including Attamala, 29 from the 11th ward, including Mundakai, and 10 from the 12th ward, including Chooralmala, are on the list. Many families who were on the previous list were left out of the new one. There was protest against the earlier draft list released by the sub-collector. The affected people allege that the new list has even bigger flaws.

Opportunity to raise objections

If there are objections to the new list, they should be informed within 10 days. For this, there are help desks at Vythiri Taluk Office, Meppadi Grama Panchayat, and Vellarimala Village. The sub-collector is responsible for conducting on-site inspections in the case of objections. There were 242 people in the first complete list. Only 323 beneficiaries are included in both lists. Disaster victims say that more than 100 most deserving people are yet to be included. The list prepared by the Meppadi Grama Panchayat All-Party Committee has more than 400 people. Meppadi Panchayat President K. Babu said that if this list is accepted, there will be a resolution.