Uncertainty prevails over the rehabilitation of survivors of last year’s Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides in Wayanad district even as the Kerala government is planning to lay the foundation for a township at Elstone estate in Kalpetta municipality on March 27.
The district administration has reportedly not released the complete list of beneficiaries though it is hearing complaints from the landslides-hit. Adding to the concerns, several persons have voiced opposition to the government-imposed restrictions, including a 12-year moratorium on selling or transferring the allocated land. Moreover, there is dissent regarding the government’s compensation scheme, which offers victims a choice between ₹15 lakh in financial assistance or a house valued at ₹20 lakh on a seven-cent plot of land.
The District Disaster Management Authority has so far come up with a list of 242 people who have lost their houses completely in the landslides. It is also examining the appeals of 52 others to be included on the list. Besides, a list 81 in the 2A category (No gone zone—30 to 50 metres from the river) and 70 others in the 2B category (50 metres out of the 2A zone) have also been released, though not finalised.
Only 12 sign affidavit
District Collector D.R. Meghasree on Tuesday met 107 of the survivors from wards 10, 11 and 12 of Meppadi grama panchayat, in an effort to convince them to sign the affidavit expressing willingness to be part of the proposed township. “We want to speed up the process of setting up houses for the survivors, as per the government policy,” said Ms. Meghasree on an official social media post. However, only 12 of them signed the affidavit.
A majority of the survivors have expressed their distrust of the State government, stating that it has been changing its word repeatedly. “The government had promised us 10 cents of land initially. But now we are being offered only 7 cents. We have a combined debt of ₹22 crore. The banks have agreed to waive the interest of ₹7 crore, but the government has made no move to take over the principal amount of ₹15 crore,” said Shajimon Chooralmala, convener of the Janasabdam action council of the survivors.
The survivors say ₹15 lakh is barely enough for a house. “The government has received ₹723 crore in the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund after the disaster. Distributing ₹35 lakh or ₹40 lakh each to 1,000 families will amount to a maximum of ₹400 crore only. Instead the government is handing over ₹755 crore to the construction company, which by no means will make a movement in Wayanad’s economy,” Mr. Shajimon said.
Another major allegation is that the government is focussing only on homes and have ignored the livelihoods lost in the landslides. “There are people who have lost their buildings, business establishments, vehicles such as autorickshaws and jeeps used as taxis. Of the 21 people who have been orphaned, only one has been offered a job,” said Samshad Marakkar, president, Wayanad district panchayat, and co-chairman of the DDMA.
Faulty guidelines
“The DDMA has prepared the list of beneficiaries based on the government guidelines, which are faulty to the core. I have made several appeals to make necessary changes to the guidelines, but in vain,” Mr.Marakkar said.
The survivors are also anxious about the selection of land for the township. “The Elstone estate is located at a foothill and is as vulnerable to landslides as Mundakkai or Chooralmala. We fear we are being led into another disaster,” Mr. Shajimon said.
Published – March 12, 2025 09:07 pm IST
