Wayanad landslides: Cabinet nod to remove debris accumulated in the Punnapuzha river

The Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday approved a project to remove the debris accumulated in the Punnapuzha river in Meppadi grama panchayat in Wayanad following the 2024 landslides.

The Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) has been entrusted with the work. Administrative approval has been given to the ₹195.55-crore work.

The heavy rain that lashed parts of Meppadi on Wednesday created a landslide scare after debris from the previous landslides came down in the rainfall. Following this, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) issued a statement that the flow of debris would continue for some time till the eroded material was washed off completely. Further, the river and its immediate buffer of No-Go Zone was well marked. People should not go inside the No-Go Zone considering the possibility of eroded materials coming down in the rain.

Work-near-home

The Cabinet meeting also granted permission to the Kollam city Corporation to start a work-near-home space on one floor of a four-storey commercial building constructed by it in Thamarakulam East village.

As part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, the meeting also gave administrative sanction of ₹7.40 crore for the renovation of the dining hall in the cellar of the Assembly building to be carried out as a non-PMC (projects that are not managed by a Project Management Consultant) through an accredited agency.