The Kerala government on Friday issued an order to take over loan obligations of ₹ 18.75 crore from those affected by the landslides that hit Wayanad district on July 30, 2024.
According to the order, the government also approved funds from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund to take over 1,620 loan commitments to 555 disaster-affected families.
The state requested the Union Government to take steps to write off the loans under Section 13 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The Prime Minister also forwarded a letter in this regard in a meeting with the Prime Minister.
Although the Solicitor General assured the High Court that necessary steps would be taken, the court was later informed that Section 13, under which the National Disaster Management Authority could recommend loan repayment relief in cases of major scale disasters, had been abrogated.
The state government has decided to take the pledges as the Union government has not yet taken a favorable stand on the pending case in the High Court. A delay in the completion of the court proceedings could cause further distress to the affected families.
Published – 30 Jan 2026 22:29 IST
