Today, On 4th October, The Kerala High Court questioned the Centre over the delay in disbursing relief funds for landslide-affected Wayanad. A Division Bench comprising Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Syam Kumar VM highlighted that neighbouring states, such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, have already received allocations from disaster relief funds.
Kerala: The Kerala High Court, On Friday, expressed concern over the Central government’s delay in releasing funds from the National Disaster Relief Fund and the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund to Kerala following the Wayanad landslides.
A Division Bench comprising Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Syam Kumar VM pointed out that neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have already received allocations from disaster relief funds.
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The Bench emphasized,
“Disbursal of funds should be considered by the National Disaster Management Authority as also by the Central government and authorities that control disbursal from PM relief funds.”
The observation made after Amicus Curiae Ranjith Thampan, a lawyer assisting the court, pointed out that despite the extensive damage and losses caused by the landslides, Kerala had yet to receive any relief funds.
The Additional Solicitor General, representing the Central government, requested additional time to respond to the suggestions made by the amicus.
In response, the Court directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Central government to submit a detailed reply by October 18.
In its order stated,
“Disbursal of funds is to be considered by the National Disaster Management Authority as well as by the Central government and the authorities that manage disbursal from the PM relief funds. The Additional Solicitor General, appearing on behalf of the central government, has sought time until October 18, 2024, to respond to the suggestions made by the amicus curiae in his earlier reports. We expect a response on the highlighted aspects by the said date,”
The Court hearing a suo motu case it had initiated to address disaster management and prevention efforts in the State following the Wayanad landslides.
The Wayanad landslides, which occurred in the early hours of July 30 this year, devastated the villages of Mundakkai and Chooralmala in the Wayanad district, resulting in 420 fatalities and leaving over 100 people missing.
During today’s hearing, the Bench addressed concerns raised by victims of the Wayanad disaster and the authorities’ response to these grievances.
On the issue of unpaid compensation, allowances, and monthly rent, Advocate General Gopalakrishna Kurup presented a report from the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA), which revealed that 40 complaints had been received. Of these, 22 were resolved, while 18 remain pending.
The Court expressed dissatisfaction with the delays in payments, emphasizing that issuing government orders alone does not equate to real resolution. It highlighted the need for actual disbursal of funds.
As a result, the Court instructed authorities to provide an updated list of unresolved grievances that had been pending for more than two weeks.
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The Court also advocated for the creation of vigilance and monitoring committees at the state, district, and local levels to prevent illegal quarrying and to ensure improved surveillance in disaster-prone areas. Additionally, it emphasized the importance of strictly enforcing zoning regulations in landslide- and flood-prone areas to prevent further ecological harm.
In its order, the Court directed the state government to establish vigilance committees and implement a year-round monitoring system to regulate quarrying activities.
The Court further added the KELSA member secretary as a respondent in the case and scheduled the next hearing for October 11.