Satheesan meets Kerala CM, demands rehabilitation package for Vilangad

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan has urged the government to come out with a special package for Vilangad in Kozhikode, where landslides wreaked major damage. Satheesan met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his office on Tuesday, and handed over a detailed memorandum.

The Congress leader told the CM that he had visited Vilangad where the gravity of the disaster was much more than what has been reported so far. While the state has given its full attention to Wayanad, the situation in Vilangad should not be ignored, he said.

In his petition, Satheesan pointed out that, as per the government’s official data, at least 24 landslides have been reported in one village. However, the local residents say at least 40 landslides have occurred. One person died and many others were injured. “About 21 houses were fully damaged while more than 150 houses have become non-inhabitable.

The government should provide people who incurred such losses with new houses as part of a rehabilitation package. Farmers also bore the brunt to a great extent due to crop loss. They should be given adequate compensation. The government should take steps to write off the agri loans taken by the farmers here.