Mundakkai Landslide: Rs 15 Lakh Aid Given to Families Opting Out of Housing Scheme

Kalpetta: Families affected by the Mundakkai landslide who chose not to move into the government-planned township have been provided Rs 15 lakh each as financial assistance. A total of 104 families who submitted consent letters stating they preferred financial aid over houses received the amount directly in their bank accounts.
The government had initially identified 402 families as eligible beneficiaries for the township housing project in Kalpetta. Of these, 104 families opted out, expressing their willingness to manage with financial support instead of government-built homes. Funds were transferred directly to their accounts. Some of these families had earlier received houses with support from other organizations and individuals.
The total sanctioned amount for providing this financial support stood at Rs 16.05 crore. The funds were drawn from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund and the State Disaster Response Fund. Along with the Rs 15 lakh aid, the state will also cover house rent for June and July for the beneficiary families. Additionally, Rs 18,000 per month is being given as livelihood assistance for two members in each family until July.
For the remaining families who chose to take houses in the township, construction is currently underway. Each house is designed to be 1000 square feet in area, built on seven cents of land. A model house is expected to be completed by July 10 and will be exhibited for inspection by beneficiaries and the public to ensure transparency and demonstrate construction quality. All houses across the five township zones will follow the same model design. The homes are being constructed with structural features to withstand natural calamities, including landslides.
In the first zone, land preparation has been completed for 100 houses. Foundations have been laid for 14 houses, and pillars have been erected for six. Soil testing has been conducted for 50 plots. The government has set a target to complete the construction of 100 houses by August. The entire township project is expected to be completed by the end of November.