KERALA :
Nearly two years after the massive landslides that struck Kerala’s Wayanad district, the state government on Sunday handed over houses to survivors at a rehabilitation township in Kalpetta, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan distributing title deeds to 178 families in the first phase of the ₹299-crore project.
The township, located over 20 kilometres from the worst-affected villages of Chooralmala and Mundakkai, has been built on 64 hectares of land acquired from Elston Tea Estate and is expected to accommodate around 1,600 people across 410 houses. The first phase, comprising 178 houses, was inaugurated on Sunday.
Each house is built on seven cents (3,049 sq ft) of land and is a single-storey, 1,000-square-foot unit. The structures are designed keeping Wayanad’s terrain and climate in mind and include provisions for an additional floor if families choose to expand. Every house features a master bedroom, two additional rooms, a living room, a study, a dining area, a kitchen, storage space, and a sit-out.
Beyond housing, the township will include roads, a health centre, an anganwadi, a market, children’s play areas, a sports club, common halls, an open-air theatre, and a memorial to honour those who lost their lives.
Chief Minister Vijayan had laid the foundation stone for the township on March 27 last year. Around 1,500 workers worked round the clock to complete the first phase in less than a year.
On Sunday, beneficiaries received not only title deeds but also ownership certificates and connections for electricity and water. The government has announced that utility bills will be covered until June.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the handover of houses under the Wayanad rehabilitation project as a symbol of collective resilience and solidarity.
“Words fall short to describe this emotion. Rising above those who ignored and undermined us, an entire state came together to wipe the tears of our brothers and sisters. Today, as we hand over the first phase of the Wayanad Model Township, 178 homes, to the survivors of Mundakkai and Chooralmala, it stands as a powerful testament to Keralam’s resilience,” Vijayan said.
He noted that despite challenges and delays in receiving rightful aid, the state remained united in supporting those affected.
“Even when rightful aid was denied, we did not back down; we held each other closer. This is our Keralam,” he said.
The Indian Union Muslim League also handed over 51 houses constructed under the first phase of its rehabilitation initiative for families affected by the Chooralmala landslide in Wayanad district on Saturday.
IUML State president Panakkad Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal distributed the keys at a function held at Vellithode near Thrikkaipetta in Wayanad, with Sharada becoming the first beneficiary to receive the key.
Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she was proud of the collective efforts across political parties in rehabilitating survivors of the Wayanad landslides.
“The day before yesterday, we laid the foundation stone for the 100 houses we promised. This morning, I visited the houses built by the government, and this evening I am here to acknowledge the IUML’s monumental efforts in providing homes to help survivors rebuild their lives,” she said at the event.
The July 2024 landslides claimed 298 lives, destroyed 59 houses completely, and rendered hundreds more uninhabitable.
In the immediate aftermath, 2,569 people from 728 families were housed in 17 relief camps across Wayanad. The government later facilitated relocation to rented homes, covering rental expenses from the state exchequer.
Livelihood assistance was extended to 752 families at ₹9,000 per month for one earning member and to 507 families at ₹18,000 per month for two members. Twenty-one children who lost both parents received total assistance of ₹2.10 crore. Additionally, 858 families continue to receive monthly food coupons worth ₹1,000.
source: http://www.maktoobmedia.com / MaktoobMedia.com / Home> India / by Maktoob Staff / March 12th, 2026