Rahul Gandhi to lay foundation stone for 50 houses for Wayanad landslides survivors on February 26

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will lay the foundation stone for 50 houses being constructed by the Congress for victims of the Wayanad landslides on February 26 at 2 p.m. at Kunnambetta in Meppadi panchayat, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president (KPCC) Sunny Joseph said at a press conference here on Thursday.

He said financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each will be provided to 40 shop owners from Chooralmala and Mundakkai who did not receive government aid. The traders had met Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi and apprised her of their difficulties, following which the assistance was arranged, he added.

A total of 3.24 acres has already been registered for the housing project, and the registration of an additional 2.18 acres will be completed this week. The 50 houses will be constructed on 5.42 acres, with each beneficiary allotted eight cents of land. Each house will have a built-up area of 1,100 sq ft.

Next phase

As part of the next phase, five more acres will be acquired in the Ezhanchira area of Meppadi panchayat to build another 50 houses, he said. The beneficiaries include families affected by the disaster who had been living in makeshift shelters, as well as those excluded from the government list for technical reasons.

Soil testing for the construction has been completed and studies on water flow in the project area have also been carried out. Environmental engineering measures and related technical procedures have been finalised to ensure the houses are built with optimal facilities, Mr. Joseph said.

Congress and United Democratic Front leaders, along with prominent personalities from various fields, will attend the function. He alleged that the relaxations granted when the government acquired land were not extended to the Congress for the rehabilitation project.