Thiruvananthapuram: Days earlier than the LDF authorities is scheduled at hand over the primary part of homes to the survivors of the 2024 Wayanad landslides, the Congress Thursday laid the muse stone for its rehabilitation challenge that goals to construct homes for 100 households. 

The primary part of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee’s mannequin village challenge will construct 60 homes of 1,041 sq ft every on eight-cent plots in a complete of three acres of land. 

The social gathering additionally distributed Rs 5-lakh cheques to 40 native store homeowners who misplaced their companies within the landslide.

In keeping with official numbers, 266 individuals died and 32 went lacking after a number of landslides struck the Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala villages of Wayanad on 30 July 2024. 

Rahul Gandhi, who was then the MP from Wayanad, had introduced the housing challenge throughout his go to to the constituency quickly after the incident.

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Additionally Learn: Defined with maps: How topography, human density led to devastation in Kerala’s Wayanad

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The political controversy

The ceremony comes after months of political controversy, with the CPI(M) blaming the Congress for the delay in implementing the challenge, whereas the principal opposition social gathering accused the state authorities of procedural delays.

At this time’s occasion assumes significance because the LDF authorities is about at hand over 178 homes as a part of the primary part of its rehabilitation challenge on March 1. The Mannequin Township challenge features a whole of 410 homes constructed on seven cents of land every, developed on land that was earlier a part of the Elston Property in Kalpetta.

“On this journey of therapeutic and restoration, you aren’t alone. You might be household, and we’ll stand with you everytime you want us.”

LoP Shri @RahulGandhi, together with Congress Basic Secretary & Wayanad MP Smt. @priyankagandhi ji, laid the muse stone for homes to be… pic.twitter.com/YqZCOZSDmB

— Congress (@INCIndia) February 26, 2026

In the meantime, the beneficiaries of the Congress social gathering’s scheme are those that should not included within the state authorities’s rehabilitation challenge.

As per the state authorities, the beneficiaries of its scheme embody authorized residents whose homes have been destroyed or declared uninhabitable, or properties situated in demarcated high-risk zones (inside 50 metres of the river in affected areas).

Talking on the foundation-laying occasion, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi mentioned MPs from Kerala, throughout events, demanded assist from the Centre a number of instances. She mentioned Rahul introduced the housing challenge quickly after the incident.

“As your sister, it pains me that this course of took so lengthy. It took us time due to the clearances we would have liked, due to land points and provisions. However lastly, I’m completely happy to say that at present we’re capable of begin this,” Priyanka mentioned.

Inaugurating the challenge, Rahul Gandhi lauded the individuals of Wayanad for his or her spirit, braveness, and compassion throughout the disaster.

“On this strategy of restoration, we’re with you. For us, it’s not a one-day occasion. You might be our household. We’re going to stand with you not as soon as, not twice, however each time. My sister was telling me within the automotive that she isn’t completely happy that this took so lengthy,” Rahul mentioned.

He mentioned he hoped the challenge can be accomplished quickly. He additionally expressed gratitude to the UDF constituents for serving to make the challenge occur.

Wayanad and Congress

Located in northern Kerala, the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency has been represented by the Gandhi household since 2019 when Rahul received it with a historic margin of over 4 lakh votes.

He retained the seat in 2024 with a margin of over three lakh votes. However he additionally received the Rae Bareli seat. He might maintain just one, and he selected Rae Bareli, necessitating a byelection in Wayanad.

Priyanka received the by-election, with a margin of 4,10,931 votes. The household has persistently pledged its help and affection for the individuals throughout their visits.

Venugopal mentioned each Rahul and Priyanka raised the problem strongly in Parliament, looking for the Central authorities’s intervention. He mentioned the social gathering additionally supported the state authorities within the rehabilitation challenge, together with the Rs 20 crore handed over to the state by the Congress-led Karnataka authorities.

“We have now accomplished the design and appointed the development firm. We’ll proceed with the development. It’s not a declare for political acquire, however an emblem of the ethical help given by the Congress and the UDF for Wayanad,” Venugopal mentioned.

Congress functionaries mentioned the social gathering is utilizing its personal funds for the challenge, however they didn’t reveal the entire price concerned.

(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)

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Additionally Learn: The forgotten victims of Wayanad landslide: Pinarayi meets Modi amid Centre vs Kerala fund feud

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