Wayanad landslides: Centre’s delay in declaring ‘severe disaster’ impacted relief funding, says Kerala Revenue Minister

Kerala Revenue Minister criticizes Centre for delayed declaration of Wayanad landslides as extreme disaster, hindering relief efforts.

The inordinate delay by the Centre in declaring the landslides in Wayanad as a disaster of extreme severity, 154 days after the natural disaster wiped out two villages in the district, might have robbed the State of a chance at seeking relief funds from external agencies, Kerala Revenue Minister K. Rajan said here on Tuesday (December 31, 2024).

“It is 154 days after the landslides and after repeated requests from the State government that the Centre has deigned to declare the disaster as one of extreme severity. This is just one of the three requests the State had made to the Centre immediately after the disaster and has now been accepted in principle. Did it really require as many days to make this assessment? If this announcement had come within two months, Kerala could have appealed for help from external agencies,” the Minister pointed out.

“The Centre is yet to approve the request for the preliminary aid of ₹1,202 crore or the money the State had sought as the first lot. Kerala had sent the report on November 13. The government fails to comprehend why the acknowledgement that the Wayanad landslide was a disaster of extreme severity had to be so delayed,” Mr. Rajan said.

In fact, following the incessant demands of the State government and the courts, the Centre misled the people by saying that a sum of ₹153 crore had been allowed from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). This was a challenge of all democratic values and the people of Kerala, he said.

The government will expedite the land acquisition for the rehabilitation of landslide victims, he said.

It was just the other day that the Union Home Ministry declared the Wayanad landslide as a disaster of extreme proportions and gave formal communication in this regard to the Kerala government. The communication from the Joint Secretary, Home Ministry, was handed over to the State Revenue Secretary. However, the Centre is yet to clarify on the allocation of a special financial aid package, the Minister said.

Now that the Centre has made the formal announcement, the State has an opportunity to seek additional funds towards relief from various other Ministries. MP funds can also be used for the same. But even now, the Centre maintains silence on the special financial assistance package, said Mr. Rajan.