· According to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who held a review of the relief and rehabilitation work, 4,62,456 persons are still housed in 1,435 relief camps and over three lakh houses cleaned till date.
· Apart from the physical challenge of clearing debris, cleaning flood-ravaged buildings, sanitation and medical care, the fiscal challenges of handling the post-flood reconstruction are growing, despite a massive inflow of aid to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.
· The State has already announced compensation for those affected by the flood.
· The Public Works Department action plan, presented to the government to restore roads and other damaged infrastructure, puts the cost at ₹5,815.25 crore over the next 18 months.
· The Central government has released ₹600 crore as advance assistance, with another ₹562.45 crore given to the State Disaster Response Fund. The State government is preparing a memorandum for further assistance.
· Mr. Vijayan also appealed on television to Keralites, both in the country and outside, to contribute a month’s salary over 10 months for the rehabilitation efforts.
· Cleaning 700-odd schools submerged by the flood waters poses a major challenge. Most of these schools have lost vital infrastructure.
· The task is particularly daunting in Alappuzha district, where several schools have become relief camps.
· A special purpose vehicle, Clean Kerala Company (CKC), has been formed by the government to handle non-degradable and inorganic waste.
· Special attention would be given to setting up kiosks for distribution of drinking water in the flood-affected areas.
· Steps were being taken to provide food and fodder to surviving animals and over one lakh sacks of cattle feed have been distributed.
· While the actual requirement of funds is being worked out, experts involved in the planning process at various periods, say the State would require over ₹40,000 crore to restore development levels.
Source : The Hindu