Uncertainty over govt. norms

Lack of clarity on damages has put many flood-hit in a fix

January 05, 2019 10:29 pm | Updated 10:29 pm IST - KALPETTA

Uncertainty over the norms set by the government for providing land and house to families who had lost them in the recent calamity has put many families in Wayanad in a spot.

The government had announced compensation of ₹10 lakh each to those who had lost their house and property in landslips to purchase land and construct a house. According to data given by the Wayanad district administration, 104 families, including 30 Scheduled Tribe families, come under the category. But they are yet to receive the promised assistance.

A landslip at Melmuri on the Kurichiyar mala hills under Achooranam village on August 9 last had destroyed 23 houses and partially damaged property on a 5-km stretch of the area.

Noufal of Puthiyaparambil, a 34-year-old mason, was one of those affected. Noufal’s family, including his wife, two children and his mother, has been living in a makeshift building provided by the Mahallu committee for the past five months along with three other families.

Though we approached the revenue and panchayat offices, they did not give us exact answers on the scheme, Mr. Noufal says. Mr. Noufal then approached the Collectorate here a few weeks ago only to be told to produce registered documents of 3-5 cents of land to avail themselves of the scheme. “We lost everything in the catastrophe; how can we produce the registered documents,” he asks. “Moreover, it is impossible for us to raise a huge amount to be paid as advance for the land to be procured and registration works.”

Norms simple: Collector

However, Wayanad District Collector A.R. Ajayakumar told The Hindu that the norms were quite simple. If the victim approaches the village or taluk office concerned with an agreement duly signed by the beneficiary and the owner of the land, they would transfer ₹6 lakh to the owner’s account after verification. The remaining amount would be released later as per progress of the construction of the house.

“As for tribespeople, the Department for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development would provide land and houses,” Mr. Ajayakumar says adding the proceedings are in the final stage and they would be provided land by the end of January.

As many as 121 families living on ‘poramboke’ land also had lost their houses in the deluge, Mr. Ajayakumar says. Since they have no land documents, we are waiting for a decision of the government on the issue, he adds.

The farming community has also complained that they were yet to get any compensation for crop loss in the deluge. According to the data with the Agriculture Department, a loss of ₹1,008 crore was incurred in agriculture and allied sectors.

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