Wayanad township: Second-phase house construction to be completed by October 31

Construction of the second phase of houses in the Wayanad township at Elstone Estate, Kalpetta, for survivors of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides will be completed by October 31, Keralam Agriculture Minister T. Siddique said. Speaking to mediapersons after chairing a review meeting on the rehabilitation of disaster survivors at the District Collectorate in Kalpetta on Monday, Mr. Siddique, who is in charge of Wayanad, said the draw of lots for allotting the houses to the beneficiaries would be held this month.

Rehabilitation works and the construction of the township are progressing rapidly, the Minister said. Construction of 178 houses in the first phase had been completed, with 177 families having moved in. The remaining 149 houses are in the final stages of construction, and will be completed by October 31. Construction of facilities, including an anganwadi, market, public toilets, playground and health centre, will be completed by November, he said.

The Minister directed the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and the District Collector to conduct the draw of lots this month and take steps to transfer the houses, land, and water and electricity connections to the beneficiaries’ names. Construction of internal roads in the township will be completed by December. Proposals to establish a parade ground and a school in the township are also under the active consideration of the government. The tendering process for a ₹15-crore skill park to provide employment opportunities to survivors will begin this month, Mr. Siddique said.

Guidelines approved

The Cabinet subcommittee has approved guidelines for disbursing financial assistance towards loan liabilities, damaged buildings and affected traders. Officials of the State Disaster Management Authority will visit Kalpetta on October 8 and 9 to hold discussions with local representatives and survivors to finalise the list of beneficiaries. The coordination committee will subsequently meet and the assistance will be disbursed soon, the Minister said.

Mr. Siddique said steps would be expedited to rebuild the Mundakkai and Vellarimala schools. District Collector V. Chelasini informed the Minister that ₹2 lakh was being provided to disaster-affected families who had lost their livelihoods under the micro-plan scheme. Financial assistance had already been provided to 370 families. The Irrigation department informed the meeting that debris-clearing works costing ₹50.05 crore, part of the ₹194-crore river protection and debris-removal package, had resumed. A warning system to alert people about landslides and floods will also be installed as part of the project.

Regarding the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi twin-tunnel project, the Minister directed officials to ensure the safe removal and disposal of excavated soil and debris. He stressed that the safety of local residents should be given priority and asked the authorities to take an immediate decision on the issue. He also directed officials to ensure that there were no complaints regarding the supply of free ration to disaster-affected families at Kalladi.