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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has requested financial support for the rehabilitation of those who lost everything in the Wayanad landslide, as well as assistance to address the challenges posed by climate change.
The Chief Minister gave a memorandum to the Prime Minister on Saturday during his visit to the disaster-affected region in Wayanad. CM Vijayan briefed PM Modi regarding the scale of the disaster and handed over a detailed note to the Prime Minister, a CM's office release said. CM Vijayan said that a thorough assessment of the damages is currently underway, with preliminary estimates suggesting losses amounting to thousands of crores. A detailed report on the disaster will be submitted to the Central Government later. The Chief Minister in the memorandum mentioned that the state has been significantly impacted by global warming and climate change, leading to frequent and unpredictable natural disasters. This year's heatwave was the most intense in Kerala's history. The sudden and severe landslide is also a consequence of climate change. Kerala requires adequate infrastructure to deal with such unexpected natural calamities triggered by climate change. The Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to establish special centres and regional offices with advanced research facilities in Kerala, associated with institutions like the Geological Survey of India, the India Meteorological Department, the National Seismic Center, and the Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services. Modern systems for climate monitoring need to be implemented, including high-resolution hazard assessment tools, land use planning maps, and LiDAR-based digital elevation models. The release mentioned that the state government established the Institute of Climate Change Studies in Kottayam in 2015 to study climate change. To enhance the research capabilities of this institute and address the local challenges posed by climate change, substantial financial support from the Central Government is essential. Additionally, the Kerala Climate Change Adaptation Mission is working on long-term projects to help the state cope with climate change. Both institutions require generous financial support and technical assistance to ensure the state's safety and progress in the face of climate change. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister's visit to Wayanad and requested that he instruct the relevant Central Government departments to cooperate with the state government in assessing the extent of the disaster. Adequate financial support is essential for the state's rapid reconstruction efforts and long-term climate change mitigation initiatives. Considering the severity and impact of the disaster, the Chief Minister urged that the landslide in Wayanad be declared a "severe disaster" and a "national disaster" as soon as possible. Over 300 people lost their lives as massive landslides hit Chooralmala and Mundakkai of Wayanad on July 30 following incessant rainfall. (ANI)
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