The Assembly stressed urgency, highlighting a 30 July memorandum on damages submitted to the central government. Despite appeals to Prime Minister Modi, immediate financial aid remains unreceived.
Published Oct 14, 2024 | 7:32 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 14, 2024 | 7:32 PM
Kerala Assembly unanimously appeals for urgent central assistance after devastating landslide (Rejithmohan/Creative Commons)
The Kerala Legislative Assembly passed an urgent motion on Monday, unanimously appealing to the Union Government for immediate financial aid. The motion was to support rehabilitation efforts following the catastrophic landslide that struck Punchirimattam, Mundakkai, and Chooralmala in Meppadi Panchayat. This disaster, one of the worst in India’s recent history, resulted in extensive destruction, with entire areas collapsing and significant loss of life and property.
The Assembly’s motion emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting that a detailed memorandum outlining the damages had been submitted to the central government on 30 July, 2024. Despite the dire circumstances, the state has received no immediate financial assistance, even after personal appeals made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his site visit to the affected areas.
Criticism of the federal response mounted, as the Kerala government highlighted that other states affected by similar calamities received timely aid. “Delays in financial assistance will severely hamper our relief efforts,” the motion stated, urging the Union Government to act promptly to provide funds and facilitate the waiver of loans for the disaster victims.
In an effort to address the crisis locally, Kerala convened a State-Level Bankers’ Committee on 19 August, 2024, to discuss writing off loans taken by those affected by the landslide. The Assembly reminded that under Section 13 of the National Disaster Relief Act, 2005, the National Disaster Relief Authority has the power to waive such loans, underscoring the need for swift action.
Earlier this month, the opposition raised concerns regarding the delay in announcing a relief package. T Siddique, an MLA from the opposition, expressed frustration, stating that many victims perceived the Prime Minister’s visit as a mere photo opportunity rather than a genuine effort to address their plight. The Chief Minister had previously estimated the disaster’s economic impact at ₹1,200 crore across various sectors.
The Kerala High Court also urged the central government to act swiftly in supporting Wayanad’s recovery from the July landslides. A division bench, led by Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and VM Syamkumar, reviewed a suo motu case on disaster management and requested information on relief funds from the NDRF and PMNRF.
On 10 October, the Kerala Cabinet formally requested the central government to expedite the release of disaster assistance. Reports indicated that 1,685 private and public structures, including schools, homes, and places of worship, were destroyed, along with significant agricultural and forest land.
In a bid to expedite assistance, Kerala’s special representative in New Delhi, Prof. KV Thomas, met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss the situation. During their meeting, Sitharaman acknowledged discrepancies between central and state standards in assessing disaster relief, promising to personally address the matter with Prime Minister Modi to ensure a swift response.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
