Kochi- The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to expedite the acquisition of two estates identified for rehabilitating families displaced by the devastating Wayanad landslides in July. The court's decision, announced on December 27, comes after months of inaction since the July landslide, which hindered the construction of proposed townships for the displaced families.

The two estates, Harrison Malayalam Estate (65.41 acres) and Elston Estate (78.73 acres), located in Nedumbala and Kalpetta respectively, were earmarked by Wayanad district authorities for the rehabilitation project. The court, invoking the Disaster Management Act, has urged the government to ensure fair compensation to the landowners while facilitating the swift acquisition process.

The landowners had previously filed a stay order on the acquisition, further delaying the project. The July landslides, the worst to hit Kerala since 2018, claimed 231 lives, left 47 missing, and caused widespread destruction across four villages. The disaster destroyed 145 homes, left 240 uninhabitable, and swept away 183.

State Revenue Minister K. Rajan announced the government's commitment to expediting the rehabilitation efforts following the court's verdict. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will oversee construction of roughly 1,000 single-story houses, each 1,000 square feet, across two identified sites.

"The list of sponsors willing to cooperate with the government is ready, and we will coordinate all efforts to accelerate rehabilitation," said Rajan.

Despite court approval, challenges persist. The estate owners could appeal to the division bench for further relief, and the project also requires clearance from the Union government.