Kerala Government's Direct Spending on Wayanad Landslide Relief Limited to Rs 102.6 Crore, RTI Data Shows
Nearly two years after the devastating Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides wreaked havoc in parts of Wayanad, records obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act reveal a startling fact: the Kerala government has directly spent only Rs 102.6 crore from its own funds for relief and rehabilitation efforts. This information, reported by KP Saikiran, highlights a significant gap in the state's financial commitment to rebuilding the disaster-stricken region.
State Disaster Response Fund as Sole Source
According to the disaster management department's response to the RTI query, the entire Rs 102.6 crore amount was drawn exclusively from the state disaster response fund. This revelation comes at a time when estimates suggest that the comprehensive rebuilding of Wayanad would require several thousand crores of rupees. Critics have already pointed out that the state's direct financial contribution appears disproportionately low when measured against the immense scale of the disaster that unfolded in 2022.
Central Loan and Donor Contributions: A Complex Financial Picture
The Kerala government has consistently maintained that it fully availed the Rs 529.5 crore interest-free loan sanctioned by the Centre specifically for Wayanad's rehabilitation. However, a critical transparency issue persists: there is still no publicly available detailed breakdown of how this substantial central assistance has been utilized. This lack of clarity fuels concerns about accountability and efficient fund management.
Documents from the revenue department, accessed through RTI, paint a broader financial picture. They show that donors from across the globe contributed nearly Rs 774 crore to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund in the aftermath of the landslides. Of this massive donation pool, Rs 167 crore has been allocated to the Wayanad district collector. A significant portion of these funds has been directed toward land acquisition for a planned rehabilitation township, intended to provide permanent housing for displaced families.
Rehabilitation Township: Promises Unfulfilled
Despite these allocations and the symbolic handover of keys for a few houses ahead of elections, the rehabilitation township project remains largely incomplete. There has been no meaningful progress in terms of ensuring the liveability of these houses. Basic and essential infrastructure, such as reliable power connections and consistent water supply, is still not in place. This situation leaves many affected residents in a state of limbo, unable to return to stable and secure living conditions.
The disparity between the funds received—including the central loan and generous donations—and the on-ground reality for survivors raises serious questions about the pace and effectiveness of the rehabilitation process. While financial resources have been mobilized, their translation into tangible, habitable homes and restored communities for the people of Wayanad appears to be lagging critically behind.
