Communist Government of Kerala accused of scam in relief work expenditure

Case of relief work post landslide in Wayanad (Kerala)

Landslide at Wayanad

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) – The Communist Government of Kerala has been accused of misappropriating the funds meant for the relief work post the landslide and floods in Kerala’s Wayanad District. The Kerala Government spent Rs 75,000 for the last rites of a body and Rs 3 crore to buy items like torches and raincoats for the relief staff. These figures are furbished in documents submitted by the Kerala Government to the Kerala High Court. The Chief Minister’s office, however, denied reports pf submitting these figures.

1. The Government of Kerala has filed an affidavit in the Kerala High Court with respect to assistance in Wayanad, mentioning the financial details of the relief work. It states that Rs 2.59 crore have been spent on the last rites of those who died in the Wayanad tragedy. An expenditure of Rs 4 crore was estimated for reaching out to the relief staff. According to the affidavit, Rs 10 crore is expected to be spent on accommodation and food for the soldiers and support staff. It is expected to cost Rs 15 crore to rescue people trapped in the landslides.

2. The same affidavit stated that these funds shall be used to provide clothing to 4,000 landslide survivors. Expenditure of Rs 8 crore for medical treatment of people and Rs 3 crore for draining the water from flood-affected areas was estimated. Expenditure of Rs 17 crores was estimated for Air Force planes.

BJP, Congress and Indian Union Muslim League criticise

BJP State President K. Surendran said that the Pinarayi Vijayan Government has shamelessly converted the disaster into a money grab scheme. People of Kerala selflessly came forward to help the Wayanad landslide victims, while the CPI(M) Government used the tragedy to its own advantage.

The Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League have also criticised the CPI(M) Government in Kerala. In this regard, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) issued a press release stating that the reports were wrong.

Editorial Perspective

The patriotic people want the Kerala High Court to order an inquiry into the scam and bring the truth to the fore.