Delayed Disaster Declaration Draws Flak from Kerala Minister

Kerala's Revenue Minister K Rajan criticized the Centre for taking over five months to declare the Wayanad landslide a 'disaster of severe nature'. He highlighted the benefit of an earlier declaration and lamented the absence of a response to financial aid requests for the affected district.

Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan has strongly criticized the central government for its delayed response in declaring the Wayanad landslides as a 'disaster of severe nature'. According to Rajan, the announcement, which came over five months after the disaster, would have been far more beneficial if made within two months of the calamity.

The state received a formal communication from the Centre recognizing the disaster's intensity on Monday. Addressing the media, Minister Rajan expressed his discontent with the prolonged wait for the declaration, despite the Inter-Ministerial Central Team submitting its report to the Home Ministry within a month of the landslide's occurrence.

Rajan pointed out that the Centre has yet to respond to Kerala's request for loan write-offs for affected residents and additional financial aid. The minister emphasized that an earlier classification could have enhanced coordination with NGOs for reconstruction efforts.

(With inputs from agencies.)