Thiruvananthapuram: Nearly two years after the devastating landslides in Wayanad, records obtained under the RTI Act reveal that the Kerala government has directly spent just ₹102.6 crore from its own resources on relief and rehabilitation.
According to the state’s disaster management department, the entire amount was drawn from the State Disaster Response Fund. With rebuilding costs estimated to run into several thousand crores, criticism has emerged that the state’s direct financial contribution is relatively low compared to the scale of destruction.
The government has said it fully utilised the ₹529.5 crore interest-free loan sanctioned by the Centre for rehabilitation. However, a detailed public account of how these funds were spent is yet to be released.
Separate records from the revenue department show that donations to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund totalled nearly ₹774 crore, contributed by individuals and organisations from across the world. Of this, ₹167 crore has been allocated to the district collector in Wayanad, with a large share used for land acquisition for a rehabilitation township.
Despite these allocations, progress on the ground remains limited. Basic infrastructure such as electricity and water supply is still incomplete in many areas. Apart from the symbolic distribution of house keys to a few beneficiaries ahead of elections, the township project is far from finished.
Many affected families continue to struggle to return to stable living conditions despite substantial aid and funding.
