Landslides in Kerala indicate climate change can't be ignored: UDF opposition

The Congressled UDF opposition on Tuesday said the recent landslides in Wayanad and Kozhikode districts of Kerala indicate that climate change can no longer be ignored and suggested the implementation of an early warning system to mitigate the impact of natural disasters in the futureThe recommendations were made along with the suggestions given to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the rehabilitation of victims of the landslideshit areas in Wayanad and Vilangad village in Kozhikode Leader of Opposition LoP in the State Assembly V D Satheesan saidThe LoP said the opposition has been saying since 2021 that climate change cannot be ignored and that it has to be addressedThe opposition has now suggested carrying out scientific testing mapping of disasterprone areas and setting up early warning systemsFor that scientific institutions and meteorological departments of central and state governments and institutions of international standard like Cochin University should work in concert he said while speaking to reporters here after submitting the proposals to the CMSatheesan said that when claims of Kerala being a knowledge society are made periodically then all the scientific knowledge available in the world should be used to mitigate the impact of natural disastersHe said that Kerala has faced several natural disasters in the past and therefore going forward any developmental work should take climate change also into accountThe opposition leader further said that the UDF also suggested that the government consider framing a law for the rehabilitation of victims of natural disastersSatheesan who submitted the proposals in person to the CM said that he received a positive response from VijayanRegarding the rehabilitation of the victims he said that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has already promised to build 100 houses and the state government has assured that it would hold talks with the opposition as soon as land for the project is foundSatheesan said the opposition suggested that while building the houses a township model facilitating community living should be adopted instead of simply building homes so that all the affected persons can live togetherHe said that the opposition has also recommended making microlevel rehabilitation packages tailored to the needs of each affected family as they were all affected in different waysIn some cases children were orphaned in others only elderly members of the family survived and in some the earning members died So the packages have to be different in each case We hope the state government will consider the suggestion seriously he saidHe said that the opposition also sought a separate rehabilitation package for Vilangad as officially there were 24 landslides in the village that caused widespread damage to property which included homes farmland roads and even bridgesSatheesan said that the other suggestions given by the opposition include a complete waiver of loans taken by those who lost everything in the landslides in Wayanad and Vilangad as the people no longer have the means to repay their debtsHe said that CM Vijayan agreed to look into the matter and take a decision accordinglyOn a query regarding quarrying activities Satheesan said that while it is necessary it has to be regulated and auditedHe said that if a mapping of disasterprone areas is carried out then quarrying or mining activities in those regions can be regulated or prohibitedMajor landslides hit the Mundakkai and Chooralamala regions of Wayanad on July 30 almost decimating both the areasAccording to the state government till date the landslides have killed 231 people and over 118 are still missing in those two areasOn July 30 several landslides hit Vilangad as well causing one death and widespread property damageThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever