The Kerala government remains
optimistic that the Centre would release special assistance to Kerala in view
of the Wayanad landslide disaster, Chief Minister PinarayiVijayan has said.
Replying to questions in the
State Legislative Assembly on Monday (October 7, 2024), Mr. Vijayan said though
some States had received immediate relief following disasters, Kerala has not
received any support so far. Last week’s
Cabinet meeting had decided to bring the matter to the Centre’s attention once
again. “We are still hopeful that the Centre will take effective measures to
release the aid,” he said.The State government had presented its memorandum
for assistance in accordance with set procedures. This was done as per the
State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms and by highlighting the State’s
requirements in view of the disaster and the money needed for it, Mr. Vijayan
said.“We have launched an extensive
rehabilitation process. We should have received considerable support from the
Centre. The Cabinet examined the matter seriously and decided to bring it to
the notice of the Centre once again,” he observed.
The recent allocation of
₹145.6 crore was the Centre’s mandatory allocation to the SDRF and does not
constitute special assistance for the recent disaster, he added.