Kerala will bounce back in record time: CM
Kerala will bounce back in “record time” from the deluge that displaced more than a million people, and its strength is not the size of the exchequer but the support of Malayalis around the world and those who love the state, chief minister Pinarai Vijayan has said as relief and rehabilitation efforts continue after the massive flood that claimed more than 250 lives since August 8.
About two weeks after floodwater began receding in the century’s biggest flood in the state, houses in low-lying areas still remain submerged and roads covered with sewage and mud left behind by the deluge.
“Kerala has put the worst behind it. This was the worst flood in a century. All but two districts in the state were severely affected… As per data on August 31, there are now only 28,000 people from 8,039 families in relief camps,” Kerala CM Pinarai Vijayan said in an interview with Hindustan Times.
Vijayan, who had earlier urged Malayalis to contribute a month’s salary to help in the rebuilding effort, elaborated: “My intention was to ensure the larger participation of all. As you can very well understand, it would be difficult for a salaried employee to contribute his or her monthly salary at a go. I suggested that one may contribute the salary of three days’ each for 10 months.”
He said while it was for the Centre to decide on accepting a ₹700-crore aid offer from the United Arab Emirates, the state government will seek the service of an international agency, if needed. “We have already decided to engage KPMG to appoint as partnerconsultant for the rebuilding. It has offered its services free of cost and we have accepted it,” the Kerala CM said.
A political controversy had broken out after the Indian government declined relief assistance from foreign gov-
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