Wayanad rehabilitation: township construction on Elston estate to begin this month

The construction of a township on the Elston estate for the rehabilitation of Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides survivors will begin this month, Minister for Revenue K. Rajan has said.

Acquisition of land for the township will be completed in 15 days, the Minister said at a press conference here on Tuesday.

A hearing will be organised by the District Collector from March 10 to 12 to enable those on the list of people who had lost their houses in the disaster to select their options.

The Minister said that in the wake of the court clarifying that there would not be a stay on land acquisition on any account, the acquisition would make speedy progress.

Topographical, geographical, hydrographical surveys, field visit, and soil testing have been completed. People whose houses had been destroyed in the landslides have been included on the lists. Any complaints in this regard could be submitted till March 13. The final list must be ready in two weeks, he said.

It had been decided earlier to allot five cents of land for each house to resettle families. Now though, they would get seven cents of land. Accordingly, a change would be effected in the design. Sponsors would give ₹20 lakh each, and the government would contribute the rest.

Mr. Rajan said the government would not acquire land at Punchirimattam. Bridges and roads would be built in the disaster-hit areas. As a replacement for Bailey Bridge, a new bridge would be built.

The government was considering extending for another nine months the financial assistance of ₹300 each given to the disaster-affected people. Instead of distributing provisions, a card to the tune of ₹1,000 would be provided to make purchases from Supplyco.

The Minister underlined that the government was open to discussions and addressing the apprehensions of those affected by the disaster to ensure their rehabilitation.

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