Kerala CM Slams ‘Misleading’ Reports: Sets the Record Straight on Wayanad Landslide Relief Spending
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Clarifies Expenditure Reports on Wayanad Landslide Disaster
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has addressed the reports of expenditure related to the Wayanad landslide disaster, stating that the figures that have emerged are contrary to the facts.
This clarification was made in a press release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, which provided further information on the matter.
The Chief Minister explained that the information contained in the petition submitted to the central government seeking further assistance in connection with the landslide disaster has been misrepresented. He also criticized the approach of misrepresenting the facts to prevent the state government from receiving help from the central government.
Clarification on Expenditure Estimates
The Chief Minister stated that the memorandum submitted to the central government had clarified preliminary estimates of expenditure required for various causes related to the disaster. However, these figures are now being circulated as amounts spent in the disaster areas, which is not true.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the demands in the memorandum prepared under the norms of the National Disaster Response Fund had been misrepresented, and this is an attempt to undermine the state government’s efforts to seek central assistance in connection with the Wayanad landslide disaster.
Submission to the High Court
The Chief Minister mentioned that the memorandum submitted to the Central Government containing the expected expenditure and additional expenditure to be incurred has also been submitted to the High Court.
“This is an approach that is undermining the efforts of the state government to seek central assistance in connection with the Wayanad landslide disaster. The memorandum submitted to the central government comprising the expected expenditure and additional expenditure as per the criteria has been furnished in the Hon’ble High Court. Quoting that memorandum, the state government has wrongly inflated the figures, accounts, etc. This is intended to undermine the state’s activities in connection with the reconstruction of Wayanad as a covert move to deny the disaster victims the assistance they deserve,” the Chief Minister said.