Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Thursday that the state government is preparing to complete and hand over around 300 houses to families affected by the Wayanad landslide disaster, with the first phase scheduled for February.
Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said the homes are part of a comprehensive rehabilitation township being constructed on the Elston Estate land near the Kalpetta bypass, for families displaced by the Mundakkai–Chooralmala landslides.
He said the project is advancing rapidly with a strong focus on safety, quality, and long-term sustainability.
The township will feature 410 homes in total, along with all essential infrastructure needed to ensure a dignified and secure life for residents.
“This is not just about providing a roof over people’s heads. It is about rebuilding lives shattered by the disaster,”
Vijayan said.
The township will include:
- An underground electricity network
- Drinking water supply system with a large-capacity tank
- Internal roads
- Public health centre
- Anganwadi
- Community hall & market
- Playgrounds
- Waste management facilities
Each house will also be equipped with a solar power unit and an individual drinking water storage tank.
Vijayan emphasized that construction materials such as cement, steel and sand are being tested in on-site laboratories and verified by independent third-party agencies to ensure high quality. Contractors are also required to offer five-year defect liability protection.
More than 1,600 workers are currently engaged in the project, working round the clock. Roofing of several houses, construction of internal roads, and the major drinking water tank have already been completed.
Highlighting the state’s rehabilitation approach, Vijayan said the project follows the “Build Back Better” principle to ensure safer living conditions than before.
He added that Kerala’s LIFE Mission housing initiative reflects the state’s commitment to treating housing as a basic right.
So far, 4,76,076 houses have already been completed and handed over under the LIFE Mission, and the number is expected to reach five lakh by February. Currently, construction work on 1,24,471 houses is in progress.