Sitharaman Meets with Kerala Governor and Chief Minister for a Morning Discussion in Delhi
Delayed Rehabilitation and Controversies in Kerala's Wayanad District
The rehabilitation efforts for the Chooralmala and Mundakkai regions in Kerala's Wayanad district, devastated by landslides, are facing significant delays and gaps in support from both the Central and State Governments. While some financial assistance, such as rental aid, has been provided, the long-term rehabilitation, including township housing construction, is far from complete.
Key points on the current status are:
- Approximately 70% of affected families have received government support, with rental assistance of Rs 6,000 per month for about 83% of those in rental accommodations. However, over half of these families pay higher rent than the assistance covers, showing a gap in adequacy of financial help.
- The government's official rehabilitation list includes 402 families, but independent surveys identify 586 inhabited units affected, indicating many families remain unsupported.
- Construction of the planned rehabilitation township is significantly delayed. The government has still to build around 410 houses promised, with beneficiaries citing slow progress as a major concern.
- Political party initiatives to provide additional housing are also stalled. IUML bought land for 105 houses, but construction is delayed due to legal and weather-related issues. Congress groups have yet to identify land for their promised houses.
- Many survivors remain in rented homes or makeshift shelters, and some affected persons report exclusion from official beneficiary lists, worsening their financial strain.
- Controversies exist regarding compensation eligibility, with tenants receiving support but many landlords and small plot owners excluded, as official rehabilitation focuses on one party per dwelling.
The CPM led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala has criticised the Centre for the delay in financial assistance for the rehabilitation of the Chooralmala and Mundakkai regions, viewing the actions as a stepmotherly treatment towards the state.
Meanwhile, the Vizhinjam port project, a significant economic development initiative for Kerala, remains a point of contention between the state and the Centre. The state government has requested the Centre to release the central share of Viability Gap Funding for the Vizhinjam port as a grant, not a loan. The request for grant funding was discussed during a meeting in Delhi between Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Vizhinjam port project, a key infrastructure project in Kerala, requires significant financial support from the Centre to move forward and is considered a major investment opportunity for the Centre.
During the informal meeting, Kerala's representative in Delhi, K V Thomas, was present. The state-related issues were discussed during the meeting. The meeting marked another step in the ongoing discussions between the state and the Centre regarding the Vizhinjam port project and the financial assistance for the rehabilitation of the Chooralmala and Mundakkai regions.
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