Kerala Government Denies Media Reports on Wayanad Landslide Funds
The Kerala government has refuted media claims about the funds spent on the Wayanad landslide disaster, calling them factually incorrect. According to an official release from the Kerala Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the state had submitted a memorandum to the central government seeking immediate additional assistance for the disaster.
The release stated that preliminary estimates of the necessary expenses were clearly mentioned in the memorandum. However, these estimates are now being misrepresented in the media as actual expenditures in the disaster-affected areas, which is untrue. The figures in the memorandum, prepared according to the guidelines of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), have been misinterpreted, undermining the state government’s efforts to secure central assistance for the Wayanad landslide disaster.
The government urged the media to correct these inaccurate reports. This comes after Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief K Surendran accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government of presenting inflated relief expenditures to the High Court in connection with the Wayanad landslides.
In a post on X, Surendran alleged that the state government had exploited the tragedy for its own benefit. He said, “The inflated relief spending presented by the state disaster management authority in the Kerala High Court for the Wayanad landslides reeks of corruption and misappropriation. The Pinarayi Vijayan government has shamelessly turned this disaster into a corrupt money-grabbing scheme.”
Surendran added, “While the people of Kerala selflessly rallied to help the Wayanad landslide victims, the CPM-led LDF government focused on how to exploit the tragedy for its own gain. The entire state now sees their inhumane, greed-driven agenda.”
A series of landslides in Wayanad were triggered by torrential rainfall that killed hundreds of people in the state. The landslides occurred in Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Vellarimala villages in Meppadi panchayat, Vythiri taluk in Wayanad district.
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Kerala -: Kerala is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its beautiful backwaters, beaches, and rich culture.
Wayanad -: Wayanad is a district in Kerala, famous for its hills, forests, and wildlife. It is a popular tourist destination.
Landslide -: A landslide is when a large amount of earth, rocks, and debris suddenly slide down a slope, often caused by heavy rain or earthquakes.
Memorandum -: A memorandum is a written message or document used for communication, often to request something or provide information.
Central government -: The central government is the main government of a country, in this case, India. It is responsible for national policies and decisions.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is one of the major political parties in India.
K Surendran -: K Surendran is a politician and the chief of the BJP in Kerala. He often speaks on behalf of his party in the state.
Inflating relief expenditures -: Inflating relief expenditures means claiming to have spent more money on helping people than was actually spent. It is often done to get more funds or to hide corruption.