Kochi: The High Court has directed that the rehabilitation of the landslide victims in Wayanad should not be postponed. The court instructed that those currently residing in relief camps should be relocated to their homes within a week. If anyone is unwilling to move from the camps, the reasons for this should be investigated. The court has demanded that the government provide a detailed report on the number of people in the camps next week. This order was issued by a bench led by Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar in a suo motu case.
The government announced on Thursday that houses measuring 1000 square feet will be constructed for the victims in Wayanad. Priority will be given to those who lost their homes, as stated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at an all-party meeting. Those who have had to relocate will be considered in the second phase. The houses will be built according to a uniform design and will be constructed in the township prepared by the government. The construction will be done in such a way that second floors can be added in the future. On September 2, a school opening festival will be held in the disaster-affected area. The Chief Minister assured that rehabilitation would be ensured for the victims in Vilangat.
Meanwhile, the extent of the damage from the landslides in Wayanad has been revealed. 183 houses are reported missing. 340 hectares of agricultural land have been lost. 145 houses were destroyed in the disaster, 240 houses are uninhabitable, and 170 houses were partially damaged.