Modi in Kerala; Left, Cong want ‘national disaster’ label

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day visit to Kerala on Friday to take stock of the unprecedented flood situation in the State, various political parties in the State, except the BJP, have demanded that the Centre declare the condition a ‘national disaster’.

As many as 324 people have died in the disaster, and more than two lakh people have been shifted to about 1,500 relief camps due to the floods, incessant rains, and landslides reported from all 14 districts of the State.

While the ruling and Opposition parties have said that if the calamity is declared a ‘national disaster’, it may help the State access more resources from the Centre such as defence apparatus for rescue operations, money for rehabilitation works, and more food grains, the BJP said no such classifications are attributed to natural disasters, adding that the Centre is providing all possible help to Kerala.

Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, told BusinessLine over phone from Upper Kuttanad, where he is monitoring the rescue efforts, that he cannot fathom why the Centre is hesitant to make the announcement. “We will take it up with the PM when he visits Kerala. The State alone cannot handle the situation. We need more resources and help from defence forces. The Centre should immediately announce that this is a national disaster and help the State,” Chennithala said.

Convenor of the ruling Left Democratic Front, A Vijayaraghavan, said such a declaration would help the State with financial and other resources. “The rains are continuing; so rescue operations will also have to be continued. The army, navy and the air force should aid the rescue operation by providing more helicopters, boats and other engineering infrastructure. Such activities will only be possible if the Centre sheds its reluctance and provides whole-hearted support to the State government. After the rescue, the rehabilitation has to start and the State government needs more money to normalise the situation,” Vijayaraghavan told BusinessLine over phone from a shelter set up by the Thrissur district administration.

“Spoke to Prime Minister Modi again today (Friday). Requested more central forces and choppers for rescue work. PM assured immediate help,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted.

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP V Muraleedharan said the demand from the Congress and the Left is a demand “for the sake of it”. “There is no provision for a natural disaster to be declared a national disaster. The highest classification of the Home Ministry’s National Disaster Management Authority is ‘natural calamity of the severest order’ and that will help the State get money from MPs of all States from the MPLADS,” Muraleedharan said. He said he had met Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and had requested for more troops. “She said the defence forces will provide more boats and helicopters for rescue efforts.”

Former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan had said on Thursday that the floods could lead to a situation of deaths and destitution of thousands of people. “Kerala is all likely to be in the grip of diseases and other after effects of the floods even if the water recedes,” he said, and added: “But the State alone cannot handle such a situation. The army, navy and the air force, including the military engineering department, should be involved in the rescue operations and the Centre should make an announcement that this flood is a national disaster.”

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