Priyanka urges Centre to waive loans of Wayanad flood victims, laments 'lack of support'

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday urged the Centre to waive loans for the flood and landslide victims from her parliamentary constituency of Wayanad, and lamented the “lack” of central assistance in helping the affected people rebuild their lives.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, she said it has been a year since the disaster, and those affected have not been rehabilitated properly.

She urged the Centre to waive of Rs 90 crore, which it had given as a loan to meet rehabilitation works in Wayanad.

“Despite several pleas, only a nominal amount was released for rehabilitation work for a tragedy of such magnitude, and that too as a loan. Government should think of waiving off this loan amount, as Rs 90 crore is nothing for the Central Government,” Priyanka said.

She also rued lack of any substantial rehabilitation undertaken in Wayanad, adding that instead of declaring it a national disaster, the landslide was declared as a disaster of severe nature.