26.5cr to acquire Elstone Estate’s 64ha

T'puram/Kozhikode: The state govt has sanctioned Rs 26.56 crore from the chief minister's distress relief fund (CMDRF) as compensation to acquire 64.4075ha from Elstone Estate in Kalpetta village for the rehabilitation of Wayanad landslide survivors. Govt will use this land to construct a township for the affected families.
It also announced more support for children who were impacted by the disaster. Govt will give Rs 10 lakh each to seven children who lost their parents and 14 others who lost one parent in Meppadi. The funds will be deposited in the district collector's account, with monthly interest payments made to their guardians until the children turn 18.
Additionally, a project implementation unit will be established for Wayanad township development. New posts, including accounts officer and civil engineer, will be created. The finance officer post will be renamed as finance & accounts officer. Wayanad township project's special officer will choose the staff.
Meanwhile, govt finalized the list of beneficiaries identified for rehabilitation and 402 families were selected from the landslide-hit lands of Chooralmala and Mundakkal. The 2-B list of beneficiaries, comprising 73 persons, was published on Wednesday, completing the final list of beneficiaries drawn up under three categories.
Health worker Shaija Baby, whose omission from the draft list of disaster beneficiaries identified for the township project raised many eyebrows, was included in the final list. Along with Shaija two others were included in the final 2-B list. She was instrumental in identifying dismembered bodies after the landslides at Chooralmala- Mundakkai.
In the first list, govt had named 242 families whose homes were washed away or destroyed in the landslide. Another 87 persons were named in the 2-A list and it contained the families whose homes were located in the ‘no-go' zone.
The final 2-B list is available for public viewing at the collectorate, Mananthavady RDO office, Vythiri taluk office, Vellarimala village office, Meppadi grama panchayat. This list is also available on the district administration and local self-government department websites. Those who have objections or complaints regarding the final list can submit them to the disaster management department.
Sources said that at the district disaster management authority meeting, a decision was taken to send the appeals it received with regard to the beneficiary list to the state govt.
Baby's house was being constructed under the govt's Life Housing Mission scheme and it is now located inside the ‘no-go' zone. She was not included in the beneficiary list since she was not residing in the under-construction house when the disaster struck.
Meanwhile 72 beneficiaries in the first list submitted their consent forms to the district administration. Of the lot, 67 people wanted a home in the proposed township, while the remaining five sought financial assistance announced by the govt. Those included in the beneficiary list can submit consent forms until Mar 24. The final list of beneficiaries, indicating whether they opted for a home in the township or financial assistance, will be published on April 20.