Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Applauds Central Government's Declaration of Landslide as 'Severe Disaster'
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New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 30 (NationPress) On Monday, the Central Government notified the Kerala administration about its designation of the Wayanad landslide as a disaster of severe nature, following a formal request from the state. Local MP Priyanka Gandhi conveyed her appreciation for this important decision.
"I am pleased that @AmitShah has ultimately chosen to classify the Wayanad disaster as a “Disaster of Severe Nature”. This recognition will significantly assist those requiring rehabilitation, and it marks a promising direction. We would be thankful if appropriate funding for this cause could be allocated promptly,” Priyanka Gandhi posted on X, tagging the Union Home Minister.
The catastrophic landslide occurred in July, resulting in the destruction of four villages, claiming 231 lives, while 47 individuals remain unaccounted for.
A total of 145 houses were completely destroyed, 170 suffered partial damage, 240 were deemed uninhabitable, and 183 were swept away.
This action from the Central Government comes five months after the Pinarayi Vijayan administration submitted its request.
The communication also indicated that the State Disaster Response Fund has already received financial support for immediate relief operations.
However, there has been no feedback regarding the state's plea for debt forgiveness or additional financial assistance for relief efforts.
Kerala outlined four primary requests: declaring the landslide as an extremely severe disaster, increasing funds for relief initiatives, cancelling debts of the affected residents, and providing a special financial package for reconstruction.
This recent development follows the Kerala High Court's approval for the Pinarayi Vijayan government to acquire two estates for the establishment of townships aimed at fully rehabilitating residents from the four impacted villages in Wayanad.
The locations identified by the Wayanad district authorities include the Harrison Malayalam Estate (65.41 acres) in Nedumbala, Meppadi Gram Panchayat, and Elston Estate (78.73 acres) in Kalpetta.
The High Court issued this directive under the Disaster Management Act, permitting the government to move forward with land acquisition while ensuring that fair compensation is provided to the landowners.
