“Will ensure world-class rehabilitation in Wayanad”: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Wayanad (Kerala) [India], August 6 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that the government will ensure world-class rehabilitation in the landslides-hit areas of the Wayanad district that will serve as an example.

Addressing a press conference, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “We will ensure world-class rehabilitation. Our goal is to implement a resettlement model that can serve as an example for the nation and the world.”

Kerala CM further highlighted that government employees and teachers have come forward to contribute at least 5 percent of their salary to the disaster relief fund.

On the funds for CMDRF, Vijayan said, “Government employees and teachers have come forward to contribute to the disaster relief fund. We have communicated with organization leaders, and they have indicated that at least five days’ salary will be donated. Those willing to contribute should provide a letter to their respective heads of institutions.”

He further informed that financial and medical assistance will be provided to the workers in the landslide-hit areas and stated, “The migrant workers in the Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas are safe. The Labour Board will provide medical and financial assistance to both plantation workers and migrant workers…

Highlighting the total funds in the CMDRF, Vijayan stated, “From July 30 until yesterday, we have received Rs 53.98 crores in the disaster relief fund.”

Kerala CM further asserted that the government is ensuring quality supplies to the victims and workers and around 1,174 personnel from various forces have been deployed for the search operations.

“We must ensure the quality of food supplies provided to rescuers and workers. People in school camps need to be relocated. We will provide opportunities to retrieve valuable items from homes in the disaster-affected area. The legal aspects of demolishing hazardous buildings will be examined. Only rescue personnel should be allowed in the disaster-affected area. A total of 1,174 personnel from various forces have been deployed for the search operations. The Public Works Department will assess the damage to buildings to determine compensation, and experts will evaluate which buildings need to be demolished,” said Vijayan.

Adding further to it, Vijayan said, “It has been one week since the Wayanad disaster. We have conducted a thorough search operation, leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to locate the missing persons. Intensive search operations were carried out today from the epicentre of the landslide. Officially, 224 people have been confirmed dead.”

Earlier in the day, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Committee (KCBC) has decided to build 100 houses under the leadership of the Kerala Catholic Church for those who lost their homes due to landslides in Churalmala, Mundakai and Kozhikode Vilangad areas in Wayanad.

The decision was taken in an August 5 meeting chaired by President Cardinal Basilios Clemis Katholika Bawa at Mount St. Thomas in Kakanad.

All dioceses, monastic communities, church institutions, individuals and systems of the Kerala Catholic Church are working jointly on the disaster management plan.