Kerala government issues order taking over loan liabilities of Wayanad landslides-affected

The Kerala government on Friday issued an order by which it will take over loan liabilities to the tune of ₹18.75 crore of those affected by the landslides that hit Wayanad district on July 30, 2024.

As per the order, the government also sanctioned funds from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund to take over 1,620 loan liabilities of 555 disaster-hit families.

The State had asked the Union government to take steps to write off the loans as per Section 13 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The Chief Minister had also handed over a letter in this connection at a meeting with the Prime Minister.

Though the Solicitor General had assured the High Court that necessary steps would be taken, the court was later informed that Section 13, according to which the National Disaster Management Authority could in cases of disasters of severe magnitude recommend relief in repayment of loans, had been repealed.

The State government decided to take over the liabilities as the Union government had not yet taken a favourable stand in the ongoing case in the High Court. Delay in completing the legal proceedings could cause further distress to the affected families.