Wayanad landslide: CM Vijayan, Priyanka Gandhi slam Centre over 'no help for rehabilitation, only insufficient loan'

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and AICC general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have accused the centre for not extending assistance for rehabilitation of those hit by the Wayanad landslide.

Vijayan said that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah already allotted Rs. 20 crore for constructing 100 homes.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the township for the landslide affected, the Chief Minister said that the centre only allotted Rs. 529 crore as loan that need to be repaid. "Owing to this attitude being shown by the centre to the state there was no hope that the centre would extend any further assistance," Vijayan said.

Vijayan said that the joint effort of the state, irrespective of political differences, helped in initiating the township project and commencing the work in eight months. All sections of the people are contributing to this rehabilitation effort, he said and also read out the letter sent by Siddaramaiah allotting Rs. 20 crore.

"The state witnessed much coordinated efforts during the disaster on July 30 last year that claimed 266 lives and 32 persons went missing. A similar coordinated effort is happening in rehabilitations also. This rehabilitation drive will also become a model one and become a historical one," said Vijayan.

Priyanka also said even as the Centre was repeatedly urged to extend assistance only a negligible amount was allowed. She also said that the rehabilitation is a collective effort and all sections, including the Karnataka government, are extending assistance.

Meanwhile, opposition leader V D Satheesan of the Congress said that the government should also ensure completion of the work without delay. Already it took eight months to prepare the list of beneficiaries and lay the foundation stone. Such a delay should not be there in setting up the houses. He also said that the government should ensure free treatment to those who are still struggling with the injuries caused in the landslide.

The township is being set up on 64 hectare land in Elstone estate at Kalpetta.

Climate resilient houses will be constructed. Each house will have a total area of 1000 square feet in seven cents land. So far 402 families are identified for rehabilitation. In the first phase 242 families are being rehabilitated. Among them 175 families so far opted for the house in the township, while 67 others accepted the offer of Rs. 15 lakh.