UDF Government Continues to Neglect Mundakkai-Chooralmala Survivors as It Completes 100 Days in Office

Kalpetta: As the UDF government completes 100 days in office, Mundakkai-Chooralmala disaster survivors are facing neglect, with rehabilitation and township projects progressing at a slow pace. There are complaints that Kalpetta MLA T Siddique, despite becoming a minister, has not intervened sufficiently in the matter.

JMJ Manoj, convener of the survivors' People's Action Committee, said that no significant work had been undertaken in the 100 days. Apart from projects that had already been initiated, no new work is taking place in the area. Despite assurances that the possibility of including more beneficiaries would be examined, no action has been taken. Teh process of writing off loans has also not been effective. Survivors say house construction is progressing slowly as well.

The change in government has also affected the township project. Coordination was lost after the UDF government came to power. During the LDF government's tenure, construction work was carried out round the clock in shifts. When the LDF government demitted office, the main concrete work had been completed for 308 of the 410 houses, with the main concrete work pending for 102 houses. The concreting of all 308 houses was completed during that period.

Since the UDF came to power, only a nominal number of houses have undergone concreting. According to the current beneficiary list, there are 327 families. Apart from the 178 families to whom houses were handed over in the first phase, another 149 families urgently need houses.

The LDF government had decided on the families to be included in the final phase of the beneficiary list, but the new government has not taken further action. The township project, which earlier had around 2,500 workers, now has only about 1,000 workers. The number had fallen to as low as 500 at one point.

One Month Without a COO

The township project was left without an IAS officer serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO) following the UDF government's transfer of IAS officers. Dr J O Arun, who had been working full-time from the township as COO, was transferred as Director of the Suvrey and Land Records and Inland Water Transport departments. The post remained vacant from June 9, leaving the project without an officer to coordinate the work.

Following protests, a new officer was given charge only on July 4. S Suhas, who had been the Special Officer, was also transferred and appointed Special Secretary in the Water Resources Department. Dr J O Arun was given the additional charge of Special Officer.

KIIFCON Officials Withdrawn

The withdrawal of KIIFB officials who were handling crucial responsibilities in the township project also created uncertainty over the work. Officials holding key positions were withdrawn by the government. They had to be reinstated after 'Deshabhimani' brought the issue to light.

The officials withdrawn included the Project Head of KIIFCON, the technical wing of KIIFB that was coordinating the construction, the Project Engineer of the Buildings Division, the Project Engineer of the Roads Division and the Assistant Project Engineer of the Buildings Division.

Under the EPC contract signed by the LDF government with the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, the township is to have 410 houses, public buildings and allied facilities. Of these, 178 houses have been handed over for occupation, while 149 houses remain to be handed over. Beneficiaries for another 83 houses are yet to be included in the list. The procedures for this are being delayed.

Congress Accused of Abandoning Housing Project

The Congress has also abandoned the project after collecting crores of rupees in the name of helping disaster survivors. Apart from purchasing land at Kattanathottam in Kunnampatta, Meppadi, no further work has been carried out. The foundation stone installed by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for the houses announced to be constructed has been left abandoned.

After collecting crores of rupees for one-and-a-half years by promising 230 houses for disaster survivors, the Congress laid the foundation stone for only 50 houses. When the disaster occurred, Rahul Gandhi and the KPCC announced 100 houses each, while the Youth Congress announced 30 houses. There has been no clarification on how much money was collected for the project or what was done with the funds.

The Congress fund collection was carried out by campaigning against the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund, which was intended for rehabilitation. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi did not contribute funds to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund for rehabilitation.