THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cabinet meeting has fixed the sponsorship amount for building a house in the proposed township being built for the rehabilitation of the victims of the Wayanad landslide disaster. It has been decided that Rs 20 lakhs will be the sponsorship amount to build a single house. The government, which has decided to acquire only Elstone Estate for the township and build a house for a family on seven cents of land, has also imposed a condition that the land and house obtained as a residential unit should not be alienated for 12 years. Initially, the government had fixed Rs 30 lakhs for the construction of a house. This was later revised to Rs 25 lakhs. This has now been reduced to Rs 20 lakhs.

The draft Phase 2 B list only includes houses that are isolated due to the disaster, which are located outside the no-go zone, and those that are fully isolated 50 meters inside from the border of the no-go zone. The Wayanad District Collector has been directed to prepare a list of houses that fall under these parameters.

The list of disaster-affected families prepared by the Wayanad District Collector is within 430. Families who are eligible for the Rs. 15 lakh allocation intended for those affected who choose to live outside the government-constructed township will be excluded from this list. Hence, only Elstone Estate will be acquired for rehabilitation in the first phase. Plots of 7 cents of land will be reorganised to provide houses to the beneficiaries. The rules regarding the land assignment to be followed were also approved in this township.

Elstone Estate is located in the municipal area. The income of the beneficiary will not be considered for providing land. The land and house received as a residential unit will be heritable. It should not be alienated for 12 years. The residential units can be ascribed to the joint name of the male and female heads of the household. The validity of taking a loan by mortgaging the land and house before 12 years will be examined by the government on a case-by-case basis. Before allocating a house in the township or providing Rs. 15 lakh, the beneficiaries will be instructed to dismantle and remove usable windows, doors, and other items from the listed houses themselves. The village officer and the panchayat secretary will jointly ensure this is done.

The Rs. 300 allowance currently allotted to the disaster victims will continue to be allotted under the same conditions. The state-empowered committee will be tasked with taking further action in this regard. It has been decided to provide disaster-affected families living in rented accommodation with coupons worth Rs. 1,000 per month through Supplyco from the CSR Fund, and each coupon will be valid for two months.