The Kerala Cabinet is planning on seeking monetary assistance from global financial agencies to rebuild the state after the floods. According to media reports, the Cabinet will seek an assistance of Rs 15,900 crores from agencies including the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) for post-flood rehabilitation.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the state government had approached Centre for its permission to seek funds from global agencies. Representatives from World Bank and ADB had visited the state for assessment of damages caused due to the floods. He said that the report will be submitted to the Centre soon.
The loan thus obtained will be utilised for priority sectors identified by the state government like roads, drinking water, protection of coastal areas, epidemic control, flood prevention projects, etc.
A monitoring committee headed by the chief secretary will oversee the rehabilitation and restoration works. Additionally, the state planning board has been asked to submit a detailed project on the comprehensive rebuilding of flood-affected areas.
A panel consisting of additional chief secretaries of environment and local self-government departments and secretary of mining and geology department has been appointed by the Kerala cabinet to identify places which have been damaged in the floods and landslides. This panel will conduct scientific analysis to identify those areas and come up with alternative plans for rehabilitation of people who lost their houses in the landslides.
The state government has asked all the department heads to submit a report on livelihood means for people who have lost everything in the floods within 10 days. The Chief Minister also announced a moratorium of one year for all loans including agricultural and educational loans in the state.
Kerala faced devastating floods in the months of August after incessant rainfall and the subsequent opening of dams in the state caused widespread flooding. Many places in the state were submerged, bringing the state to a grinding halt.