Draw of lots held for first phase of Wayanad rehabilitation project

Kick-starting the Kerala government-sponsored rehabilitation package, the Wayanad district administration on Friday conducted a draw of lots for allotting houses built in the first phase of the Kalpetta township project for the survivors of the 2024 Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide disaster.

In the initial phase, 178 houses have been constructed on land that was part of the Elston Estate. The draw of lots was held at the Meppadi MSA Auditorium in the presence of beneficiaries, elected representatives, political party workers, and officials.

P. Ashraf of Panchil House in Ward 10 of Meppadi grama panchayat drew the first lot. He was allotted House No. 104 in Cluster J of Zone 1 in the township.

Beneficiaries received their respective houses through a draw of lots from a box prepared by the district administration.

At the function, the government order granting ownership (title deeds) of the houses along with seven cents of land was distributed to the beneficiaries. Special counters were also set up to distribute documents related to electricity, drinking water, ration cards, and house ownership.

Officials said that, at present, electricity and water connections for the houses had been provided in the name of the District Collector. The government will bear the electricity and water charges for the first three months. A certificate enabling the transfer of these connections to the beneficiaries’ individual names after three months was also issued to beneficiaries on the day.

Speaking at the function, Minister for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes Welfare O.R. Kelu said that financial assistance would be distributed swiftly to those who lost their shops and enterprises in the disaster. “The government exercised utmost transparency and accuracy in the draw of lots process. Houses selected by beneficiaries cannot be exchanged with other beneficiaries,” he said.

The first phase of the township will be inaugurated and keys to 178 completed houses will be handed over at a function to be held on February 25.

410 in total

The township comprises a total of 410 houses, each constructed on seven cents of land. Each 1,000-sq ft house includes two bedrooms, a living room, a study room, a dining area, a kitchen, and a storage room.

The township includes various facilities, including a marketplace, health centre, an anganwadi, and a community centre.

Officials added that all 410 houses being constructed in the township had been assigned specific digital numbers. Through the draw of lots, 115 houses in Zone 1, 30 houses in Zone 3, and 33 houses in Zone 4 were allotted to beneficiaries in the first phase.