Kerala cabinet approves rehabilitation plan for Wayanad landslide victims

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Wednesday that the state cabinet has approved a rehabilitation plan for victims of the devastating Wayanad landslides on July 30 last year. The plan focuses on restoring livelihoods and rebuilding homes for those affected.

Vijayan explained that while land acquisition for rehabilitation in Wayanad remains challenging, townships will be built at Elstone Estate and Nedumpala Estate. Five percent of land in Elstone and ten percent in Nedumpala will be allocated for the new housing. The final list of beneficiaries will be released by January 25, 2025.

The townships will include essential amenities like markets, educational institutions, hospitals, and recreational centers. The designs for homes will be based on the land’s foundation to ensure stability and safety.

Meanwhile, the federal government has classified the Meppadi landslide disaster as "severe" following a report by the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT). On December 5, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other MPs, urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to provide immediate relief. The landslides killed over 300 people and destroyed homes and infrastructure in the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas.