KOCHI: The government has informed the High Court that it will not take over the Nedumbala Estate owned by Harrison for the time being for the rehabilitation of the Mundakai-Chooralmala disaster victims. The government informed the court that Elston Estate will be the one to take over in the first phase and that an order regarding land acquisition had been issued earlier.

The government has agreed to rehabilitate the disaster victims in the Elston Estate. If there is not enough land here, Nedumbala Estate will be taken over. 215 families will be rehabilitated in the first phase. The government estimates that there may be some who will receive compensation of Rs. 15 lakh without being part of the rehabilitation plan. In that case, it will decide whether to take over Nedumbala Estate after taking the final count of those who need houses. The government also informed the court that further steps will be taken after assessing how many people are left.

Land of Harrison's Plantations is being acquired for building a township for the affected people of Wayanad. The High Court Division Bench considered an appeal filed by Harrison against the land acquisition process.