Wayanad Landslide Victims Continue to Face Government Neglect and Financial Hardship
Eighteen months after the devastating landslide in Wayanad district, building owners in the affected areas of Chooralmala and Mundakkai find themselves completely excluded from the rehabilitation efforts undertaken by both government agencies and voluntary organizations. While the first phase of the rehabilitation township at Elstone Estate is nearing completion, the government has yet to announce any compensation for property owners whose buildings were destroyed in the natural disaster.
Property Tax Demands Compound the Distress of Disaster Victims
T A Asif Ali, who lost six buildings with commercial shutters spread across 10 cents of land in the landslide, revealed that 122 properties owned by 52 individuals were either fully or partially destroyed in the Mundakkai and Chooralmala regions. The estimated financial loss from this destruction amounts to approximately Rs 15 crore. Despite the government's failure to provide compensation, building owners continue to receive notices demanding payment of property tax, including for structures located in designated no-go zones.
"I recently received a notice demanding Rs 3,400 as property tax for a single unit that was completely destroyed in the landslide," Ali stated, highlighting the bureaucratic insensitivity faced by disaster victims. He further explained that these tax notices, which threaten legal action for unpaid dues, were issued as recently as December 30, 2025, even as authorities have refused permission to repair or reuse partially-damaged buildings.
Broken Promises and Unresolved Compensation Issues
In October 2025, the district collector had informed property owners that officials would submit recommendations to the government regarding compensation. However, these issues remain completely unresolved months later. "Except for eight building owners who lost their residential houses and were directly impacted by the disaster, others have not received any compensation whatsoever," said Ali, who himself is on the government beneficiary list due to the destruction of his home.
The situation has created severe financial distress for building owners and their families who previously depended on rental income for their livelihood. Many have been forced to take up menial jobs to survive, with former property owners now running roadside stalls, working as security guards, or taking daily-wage employment.
Financial Ruin and Mounting Debts for Disaster Victims
C K Abu, who owned three shops with shutters and earned steady rental income before the disaster, now sells tender coconuts to make ends meet. The financial devastation extends beyond immediate income loss, as many property owners constructed their buildings using loans from financial institutions, expecting regular rental returns.
"Some invested their retirement benefits after decades of work in tea plantations, while others used accumulated savings from years of employment abroad," Ali explained. "Now they are facing complete financial ruin without any support system."
V Niran, an office-bearer of the building owners' association, revealed that the total outstanding bank loans for all affected property owners amount to approximately Rs 6 crore. Loan repayments have stopped entirely since rental incomes dried up following the disaster.
Demands for Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Support
Building owners are now demanding:
- Immediate compensation at the rate of Rs 3,000 per square foot
- A minimum compensation amount of Rs 25 lakh per affected owner
- Inclusion in the government's micro rehabilitation plan
- Complete waiver of their outstanding loans
- Allocation of commercial buildings in the township being developed for survivors
Ali pointed out the glaring inequity in the current rehabilitation approach: "The government excluded building owners from the beneficiary list, while tenants who lived in the destroyed buildings for just one month received houses in the rehabilitation township." This disparity highlights the systemic neglect faced by property owners in the aftermath of the Wayanad landslide disaster.
