Eight months after multiple landslides killed over 260 people and rendered over 2,500 homeless in Wayanad’s Meppadi, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the first model township as part of the rehabilitation of the survivors.
According to an official, the township, to be built in Elstone estate near Kalpetta town over 64.4 hectares, will comprise of 430 newly-built homes with 1000 sq ft in seven-cent plots each. Apart from the homes, the township, said the official, will have ancillary facilities such as a market, anganwadi, play areas for kids, overhead water tank, sewage facilities, community centre and public toilets. The state government has deposited ₹26.5 crore as compensation for the owners of the Elstone tea estate as part of land acquisition. The second model township is expected to be built in Nedumbala tea estate in Meppadi.
At an event held in the Elstone estate on Thursday, Vijayan unveiled a plaque signifying the start of the construction work on the township. The event was attended by ministers K Rajan, PV Mohammed Riyas, Kadannappalli Ramachandran, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, deputy leader of opposition PK Kunhalikutty and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra among others.
“If people stand with us, there is no challenge that we can’t win over. No tragedy can defeat Kerala. We are confident that the unity of our minds, coupled with the ideals of humanity and solidarity, can rise over all differences. That’s the message that this rehabilitation project sends. It is a big message,” Vijayan said at the event.
In his address, the chief minister also attacked the Union government for its alleged reluctance in lending financial assistance for the rehabilitation of survivors.
“We expected assistance from the Union government as a principal source of funding. Unfortunately, we didn’t get much apart from an extremely inadequate loan which we will have to pay back. We don’t know if we can look forward to expecting any assistance based on past experience. But even in the absence of assistance from the Union government, the state went forward in preparing a rehabilitation plan and everyone cooperated,” the CM said.
The Union government last month approved an interest-free loan of ₹529.50 crore under the scheme for Special Assistance to State for capital investment. Kerala had put forward the costs of rehabilitation of survivors at ₹2,262 crore. The Union government also told the HC this week that it has not decided to waive off the existing loans of the landslide victims.
LoP Satheesan promised the “unconditional support” of the opposition towards rehabilitation efforts considering the magnitude of the tragedy and the circumstances of victims and survivors.
“There are children who have been orphaned. There are people who have lost means of livelihood and are unable to pursue any jobs in future. There are families who have lost their principal earners. We asked the government to ensure a sense of community life in the township. That will come true. There have been some delays in preparing the lists of beneficiaries. But now, without any more delays, this project must be implemented in a time-bound manner,” he said.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she was awed by the “greatness and the strength of the human spirit” by the way people responded to the tragedy and assured that the country stood with the survivors.
“What you have been through is immense. You have lost those who wove the fabrics of your lives. Fathers, mothers, children, grandparents, best friends, colleagues. You have not just been displaced, your entire lives got washed away. But your businesses, jobs and everything. Homes and schools. So when we talk of compensation, we are aware that nothing can compensate you for the pain and suffering you have faced,” she said at the foundation laying ceremony of the township.
“We as a society will make all efforts to help you rebuild your lives and to show you that there is hope in the future. This township is the first and most important step towards showing you that hope,” the MP added.
The contract for building the township has gone to the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS) which has promised its completion by the year-end.
In response to the remarks by Vijayan and Vadra, BJP leader MT Ramesh said: “The state government had sufficient funds in its account in the form of assistance from the Centre and other states. Still, the state took over 8 months to lay the foundation stone of the township. Today’s programme is only s symbolic one to mislead the survivors in Wayanad.”