Wayanad landslides: Kerala HC criticises Centre for not filing affidavit on March 31 deadline extension for rehab projects-OxBig News Network

The Kerala High Court said the Centre could not make light of its directive and observed that the assistance need to be credited into the account of the implementing agency.
| Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday (March 21, 2025) criticised the Centre for not filing an affidavit on the question of extending the March 31, 2025 deadline fixed for the completion of the rehabilitation projects for the landslide survivors in Wayanad, using the Centre’s financial assistance and also regarding the transfer of money into the account of the State’s implementation agency.

The court said the Centre could not make light of its directive. The court observed that the assistance need to be credited into the account of the implementing agency. The court had directed the Centre to get a clarification on the issue when the suo motu case relating to the Wayland landlsides came up the last time. The government had then expressed it apprehensions on fixing a time limit of March 31 for the completion of the projects undertaken in connection with the rehabilitation of the landslide-affected.

When the petition came up, the Central government’s standing council submitted that the deadline would be extended to December 31, 2025.

The court directed the Centre to file an affidavit by Monday.

Debris removal

The court also asked the Kerala government to state the starting date of the removal of debris from the landslide-affected areas. The government submitted that it would take 18 months for removing the debris. The court said it wanted to know the date from which the works start.