Wayanad, 30 July (H.S.): Two years after the devastating Wayanad landslide that killed 298 people, survivors continue to grapple with the emotional scars of the tragedy while waiting for several rehabilitation promises to be fulfilled. The disaster claimed 298 lives, including 32 people who were later declared dead after being reported missing, while more than 630 others were rescued from the debris.

In the aftermath of the disaster, the then LDF government announced an extensive rehabilitation package, promising a modern township, compensation, livelihood assistance and ecological restoration. However, many of these commitments remain incomplete despite substantial funds being mobilised for relief and rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation township, planned for around 410 affected families, is still under construction. So far, 178 families have been shifted to completed houses under the first phase, while construction of another 157 houses is progressing.

Several affected shop owners are yet to receive compensation for the loss of their commercial establishments and livelihoods. Promises to identify no-go zones along the Punnappuzha River, restore cultivable land to farmers and revive the river ecosystem have also seen little progress.

The government had also announced a ₹2 lakh micro-plan grant for each surviving family to help rebuild livelihoods, but many beneficiaries say they are still awaiting the full assistance.

Former Meppadi Grama Panchayat president K. Babu criticised the previous LDF government for failing to finalise the beneficiary list for the rehabilitation township before leaving office. He urged the present UDF government to expedite pending procedures and address complaints regarding beneficiary selection.

Naseer Alakkal, convener of the Jana Shabdam Action Council, said that although the construction quality by Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) was satisfactory, labour shortages and adverse weather had delayed the project. He added that livelihood grants could have been disbursed much earlier since funds were available.

Even as rehabilitation remains incomplete, many survivors have slowly rebuilt their lives with public support, while others continue to live with the enduring pain of one of Kerala's worst natural disasters.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman