The Union government has informed the Kerala High Court that ₹782.99 crore is currently available in the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) for the state, which can be utilized for the rehabilitation work following the landslides in Wayanad on July 30.
According to the Centre, the total amount available in the SDRF includes ₹388 crore allocated for the 2024-25 financial year, comprising a central share of ₹291.20 crore and a state share of ₹96.80 crore. This fund, managed under the guidance of the Ministry of Home Affairs' Disaster Management Division, can be used for relief and rehabilitation activities.
The Centre also highlighted that, in response to the Wayanad landslides, it had released both installments of the central share of the SDRF in advance. The first installment of ₹145.60 crore was released on July 31, followed by the second installment of the same amount on October 1
Despite this available funding, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority expressed concerns. It clarified that the ₹394.99 crore remaining from the previous year is already earmarked for payments on earlier disaster management projects. Moreover, the ₹388 crore allocated for 2024-25 is a routine provision meant for general disaster management efforts across the state, not specifically for Wayanad's rehabilitation.
The state government stressed the need for additional financial support, noting that it will submit a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report, which includes a detailed memorandum seeking further assistance from the Centre.
The Union government reiterated that the responsibility for disaster management primarily lies with state governments and that there is no provision in current guidelines to declare any calamity as a "National Disaster." The High Court, comprising Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and V.M. Syam Kumar, adjourned the matter to next Friday.
