More than 200 families who were victims of the landslide that happened in Pulloorampara here in August 2012 are yet to get relief from the government, according to the Civic Action Committee of Pulloorampara landslide victims.
Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, the patron of the committee Simon Thonikkara said that other than the usual basic aid in the event of any natural disaster, the government had not done much.
After the Chief Minister’s mass contact programme, there were reports that all promises were fulfilled, which is quite untrue. What the government has done is to identify the land to build houses for the 24 families who are living in makeshift houses at present. The land has not been bought or the documents handed over to the families. Besides, the offers that the funds for building the houses will be provided under the Indira Awaas Yojana through panchayats have not yet materialised.
None of the 13 roads that were washed away in the flood have been rebuilt. Tenders were floated for the reconstruction of Pulloorampara – Anakkampoyil road and Rs.4.75 lakh was sanctioned for the Cherusseri Road. The Rs.2.5 lakh aid promised to people who had lost shops, has not yet been distributed. The Chief Minister’s promise of land up to 1 acre for those who lost land remains on paper. The Farmers Debt Relief Commission visited the region instilling hope among the farmers, but it turned out to be meaningless, the committee said.
The government had made many promises worth more than Rs.5 crore on many occasions, but the local people have received only aid of less than Rs.1 crore in all.
This includes Rs.24 lakh for loss of lives, Rs. 8 lakh for loss of houses, Rs.6 lakh to maintain the relief camp, Rs.75,000 for loss of cattle, Rs.72,000 for medical aid, Rs.2 lakh for loss of gold and Rs.50 lakh to around 450 farmers for loss of agriculture. The Uralungal Labour Contractors Cooperative Society had taken up the task of clearing the access roads and building temporary shelters. But they are yet to be paid for the labour, Mr.Simon said.
The committee criticised the local MP, M. I. Shanavas, as well as MLA, C. Moyinkutty, who they alleged had not done anything for the region since the disaster. The committee had laid siege to the offices of the MLA and the MP on different occasions, but to no avail.
Mr.Simon said that the hilly region is on the verge of a rebellion over the implementation of the Kasturirangan recommendations adding to their woes. He said that the committee will have to take matters into its hands if the situation persists and that they will be forced to move the people living in temporary shelters into the panchayat office building.
Convener of the committee, Philip Chakkummoottil, and members Santhosh Chalil, Rajan Manthanam and Shajan Karakkada were present at the press meet.
