Centre says no provision to declare Wayanad landslides as national disaster

The Centre’s response drew flak from political parties, with Priyanka Gandhi, terming it a “shocking injustice to those who suffered unimaginable loss.”
 Rescue workers demolishing a house on the river bank at Vellarimala in search of missing people in the landslide
Rescue workers demolishing a house on the river bank at Vellarimala in search of missing people in the landslide File photo
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KOCHI: There is no provision to declare any calamity as ‘national disaster’, the Union government has informed Kerala government in response to its plea to declare the July 30 landslides in Wayanad that left over 400 dead, as one.

The Centre’s response drew flak from political parties, with Priyanka Gandhi, the Congress general secretary and the party’s Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll candidate, terming it a “shocking injustice to those who suffered unimaginable loss.”

Ruling out the ‘national disaster’ declaration, which would help the state government get more central aid, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityananda Rai said the primary responsibility of disaster management rests with state governments. The Centre provides requisite logistics and financial support to the government’s efforts, he said in a November 10 letter to Prof K V Thomas, Kerala government’s representative in New Delhi.

Rai wrote that state governments provide financial relief to affected people in the event of 12 notified natural disasters, which include floods and landslides, from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). “In the event of a disaster of a serious nature, additional financial aid is extended from the NDRF, as per laid down procedure, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team,” said the letter. 

We would like to know what action was taken by Centre: Prof K V Thomas

“The assistance provided under SDRF and NDRF is by way of relief and not for compensation. Further, under the existing guidelines of SDRF/NDRF, there is no provision to declare any calamity as ‘national disaster’,” the Union minister’s letter said.

Rai said Rs 388 crore (Rs 291.20 crore Central share + Rs 96.80 crore state share) was allocated to the state government for the 2024-25 fiscal in SDRF. In addition, the Accountant General, Kerala, reported a balance of Rs 394.99 crore in its SDRF account as on April 1, 2024. “Thus, sufficient funds are available in the state’s SDRF account for relief operations,” it said.

Prof Thomas told TNIE that the letter mentions the IMCT visit to the affected areas of Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Punjirimattom, and a report received by the Centre.

“The letter says a report was received from the (IMCT) team, and action was taken by the Centre, as per the established procedure. We would like to know what action was taken,” he said, adding that the amount of Rs 388 crore has no connection with the landslides

Expectations that the Centre would sanction more funds for Wayanad relief had soared after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the disaster-hit areas with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on August 10. Modi also attended the administrative committee meeting at the collectorate and discussed the response and relief activities with ministers and senior government officials.

“The people of Wayanad deserve better,” Priyanka posted on X. “PM Narendra Modi visited Wayanad at the time of the tragedy, he witnessed its effects firsthand, yet his government is playing politics and withholding crucial aid,” she wrote.

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