Kerala Revenue Minister reviews flood situation

Kozhikode: Kozhikode district has suffered a loss of Rs 228 crore in the rain havoc, which may go up when the final figures are released. This was stated by Revenue Minister E. Chandrashekharan at a meeting of revenue and other officials held here on Monday to review the flood situation in the Malabar region.

The state suffered a total loss worth Rs 8,315 crore and it has demanded a central aid of 'Rs 1,250 crore. The centre has already sanctioned Rs 100 crore, he added.

As per the initial report submitted by revenue officials, 92 houses in the district were fully damaged and 2577 houses partially. For those who lost their houses completely, Rs 4 lakh will be given as part of the LIFE mission project and Rs 1.2 lakh from the central funds. A sum of ' 10 lakh would be given to those who lost their land and house, Mr Chnadrasekharan said.

In Kannur district, 74 houses were fully damaged, out of which 71 are in Irrity taluk and three in Taliparamba. In the worst affected Iritty, six camps were opened where 105 families are living. Agriculture in 635 hectares of land was damaged and the loss is estimated at Rs 1.65 crore.

This is the first major monsoon calamity in the state after 1974, the minister pointed out. The centre has promised to send more forces for rescue efforts if needed. He also directed the officials to help the families who plan to go back to their houses from the relief camps.

District collector U.V. Jose said that he had urged all the government employees in the district to contribute one-day salary for the chief minister's distress relief fund. He also called upon the people to help those in the relief camps with money and materials.

The minister said Onam would be celebrated in a simple way due to the rain disaster. He also visited the landslide-hit areas at Kannap-pankundu, the affected places in Puthupadi panchayat and the Manavayal school relief camp.