- विज्ञापन -
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has criticized the Pinarayi Vijayan government for its lack of clarity regarding the use of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) in the wake of the Wayanad landslide that affected four villages. This rebuke followed comments from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who pointed out the state’s failure to submit a detailed report on the damages.
The state government has blamed the Central government for delays in approving a special relief package for Wayanad, while the Congress-led opposition has condemned both the Centre and the state for their sluggish response post-disaster.
During a suo motu hearing about compensation for the landslide, the High Court expressed its frustration over the state’s opaque handling of SDRF funds. Despite having a reported balance of Rs 782.99 crore in the SDRF, the state indicated to the Court that it couldn’t access central funds for immediate relief until it could show that at least 50% of the SDRF had been utilized.
The Court was particularly irritated when the Finance Officer of the Disaster Management Department acknowledged a remaining Rs 677 crore in the SDRF but failed to clarify how much could be directed towards disaster relief in Wayanad. The Court remarked, “You have Rs 677 crore in your SDRF account, yet you cannot specify how much is available for immediate use. A reasonable person should have at least some idea of available funds. If you can’t provide even an approximate amount, there’s no point in discussing our funding shortfalls.”
The Court stressed that without clear information on SDRF usage, it could not instruct the Centre to release additional funds. “You must first clarify your own resources before requesting further assistance,” it stated.
The Court underscored the urgency of the situation, noting that the landslide occurred in July and now it is December. “People’s needs should take precedence. Article 21 concerns the right to life, and such delays shift focus from real issues,” it stated.
The state government has been ordered to submit a detailed report on SDRF usage by Thursday.
In response, State BJP President K. Surendran criticized both the government and the opposition for passing the buck to the Centre, saying, “It’s shameful that instead of addressing these issues, the state and the Congress-led opposition are blaming the Centre. The real problem lies in the lack of accountability and clarity at the state level.”
