Thiruvananthapuram: The relief expenditure submitted by the Kerala Government to the High Court for the Wayanad landslide disaster has triggered widespread shock and confusion among the public. The figures presented, particularly the funeral expenses, have raised concerns over potential mismanagement of funds.
According to the report, the government has allocated Rs 2 crore and 76 lakhs for funeral expenses, which translates to an astonishing Rs 75,000 per victim. This figure has caused an uproar, as the total death toll from the disaster stands at just over 359. The inflated cost of funeral services has left many questioning the transparency and accuracy of the relief funds being used.
Other questionable figures in the government’s submission include Rs 1 crore allocated for the construction of a Bailey Bridge, despite it being built by military forces. Additionally, Rs 3 crore has been set aside for efforts to curb waterlogging, raising further doubts about the credibility of the expenditures.
The relief account also mentions Rs 3 crore and 98 lakhs for purchasing kits for volunteers, and Rs 11 crore for clothing for those in relief camps, even though the public had already donated a substantial amount of garments. In fact, when donations exceeded requirements, the government had announced that no more clothing was needed. Despite this, the expenditure for purchasing clothes remains in the official account.
Similarly, Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for food and water supplies, even though reports indicate that the Association of Hotel and Restaurant Owners had provided food for free, and thousands of water bottles are still lying unused at collection points.
The Kerala government’s report, filled with such startling figures, has left many citizens questioning the intention behind the inflated expenses. The Cabinet Sub-Committee had previously halted collection efforts, further fueling suspicions about the authenticity of the relief expenditures.
The report reveals startling figures, including Rs 7 crore spent on generators for just one month across 17 relief camps, Rs 12 crore for evacuation vehicles, Rs 8 crore for food expenses, and Rs 15 crore for accommodating forces and volunteers. These costs have left many questioning the government’s intentions, especially given that military forces constructed a Bailey Bridge, for which Rs 1 crore was still claimed.
In stark contrast to these high figures, the compensation for families who lost their homes in the disaster is a mere Rs 1,30,000 per house, prompting accusations of insensitivity toward the victims.
Amid growing criticism, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority defended the figures, stating that they were calculated according to the guidelines of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and represented a 90-day projection. The authority also maintained that the compensation for collapsed houses was in line with SDRF rules.
However, BJP State President K Surendran has strongly condemned the government, calling the expenditure report an “inhuman loot.” He pointed out the absurdity of Rs 75,000 being allocated for each funeral, while volunteers from Sevabharati conducted 64 funerals without charging a penny. Surendran also noted that volunteers from various organizations participated in relief efforts for free, yet the government claims to have spent crores on their services. He accused the government of exploiting the disaster to institutionalise corruption.
