Wayanad landslides: Cabinet nod for ₹351 crore township project for survivors

The Cabinet on Thursday gave administrative sanction for the Wayanad township project, meant for the rehabilitation of the July 30, 2024, landslide survivors, at an estimated cost of ₹351.48 crore.

This amount also covers the preliminary expenses, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office said. The approval has been given subject to the condition that KIIFCON, a subsidiary of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), issues the technical approval.

Mr. Vijayan had laid the foundation stone for the township on the Elstone Tea Estate in the Kalpetta municipality limits on March 27.

In January this year, the Cabinet had cleared the rehabilitation project for building model townships on 58.50 hectares on Elstone Estate and in 48.96 hectares on Nedumpala Estate. In February, the State Cabinet decided to opt only for the Elstone Estate in the first phase of the project.

The Cabinet meeting also decided to release ₹20 crore to the Special Officer of the Township Project for issuing an advance to the EPC Contractor, Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS ), once the Special Officer and the ULCCS inks the EPC contract.

To prepare DPR

The Cabinet tasked a committee led by the Chief Secretary to resolve issues related to the development of the Sabarimala greenfield international airport project. The Cabinet also ratified as a decision by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation to appoint STUP Consultants Pvt Ltd, Navi Mumbai, for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) at a fee of ₹4.33 crore.