Thiruvananthapuram, May 15: The Government of Kerala has sanctioned ₹351 crore for the development of a new township in Wayanad, aimed at rehabilitating survivors of the catastrophic landslides that devastated the Mundakkai and Chooralmala regions on July 30 last year. The natural calamity claimed over 200 lives, left hundreds injured, and 32 individuals remain unaccounted for.
The decision was announced following a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The sanctioned amount includes the initial project cost and is subject to technical approval by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board’s consultancy wing, KIIFCON.
According to an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, the cabinet also validated the deposit of ₹17 crore in the Kerala High Court. This deposit pertains to an ongoing legal dispute filed by Elstone Tea Estate Ltd., which sought enhanced compensation for land acquired for the project. The High Court had recently permitted the state to take possession of the estate land after an additional deposit of ₹17.77 crore.
The township project, whose foundation stone was laid by CM Vijayan on March 27, aims to provide permanent housing and amenities for those displaced by the landslides. Construction activities officially commenced on April 12, led by the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS). To facilitate swift implementation, the cabinet also approved the allocation of ₹20 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the Wayanad Township Special Officer. This amount will serve as an advance payment to ULCCS after the execution of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract.
Chief Minister Vijayan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the timely completion of the township. He emphasised the project’s importance in providing long-term security and dignity to the affected families.
In parallel developments, the Kerala cabinet approved multiple infrastructure and welfare initiatives during the same session.
Sabarimala Greenfield Airport Moves Forward
In a significant step towards enhancing regional connectivity, the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) received the cabinet’s nod to appoint STUP Consultants Private Limited, Navi Mumbai, for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Sabarimala Greenfield International Airport. The consultancy fee for the project stands at ₹4.366 crore.
To expedite the project’s implementation, a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary will be constituted to address procedural and logistical hurdles.
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PM JANMAN Scheme: Electrifying Tribal Homes
Further underscoring its focus on inclusive development, the cabinet also approved project documents submitted by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN). These documents pertain to the electrification of 261 homes belonging to members of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in 22 partially electrified tribal settlements across the state.