The Union government has declined Kerala’s plea to declare the Wayanad landslides of July 30 as a national calamity. Despite the state seeking ₹900 crore for relief and rehabilitation, the Centre maintained that the available funds are sufficient.
Disaster Relief Fund Allocations
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai highlighted that disaster management is primarily a state responsibility. He pointed out that Kerala has received ₹291.20 crore in two instalments for 2024-25 under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Additionally, Kerala’s SDRF account had a balance of ₹394.99 crore as of April 1.
No Provision for Declaring National Disasters
The minister clarified that current disaster management laws do not allow the declaration of any event as a national disaster. A central team had visited Wayanad and submitted a report, following which the Centre acted according to established protocols.
Impact of the Wayanad Landslides
The tragedy left 231 dead, 47 missing, and displaced nearly 900 families, turning three hamlets into ghost villages. Despite the massive loss, the Centre insists that Kerala has sufficient resources to manage the situation.
