Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): The Kerala High Court is not happy with how the state government is handling money for disasters. They were discussing a serious landslide in Wayanad and asked the government to explain how much money is in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The state told the court there is Rs 677 crores left in the fund.
The court wanted to know if there is a yearly report on how this money is spent. They questioned why the government is asking for money if they can’t provide exact numbers. The judges were frustrated and asked, “Who are you trying to fool? You don’t even know how much of the Rs 677 crores can be used for urgent needs!”
The court warned the state not to play blame games, which make the people of Kerala look bad, especially those in Wayanad. When asking the central government for help, the state must give clear and accurate numbers.
The judges also pointed out that the government isn’t sure if the Rs 677 crores is really available. The lawyer for the state said that even without disasters, they need around Rs 700 crores each year for the SDRF to cover other expenses. They also said they need more money for recovery efforts.
The court ordered the government to prepare a detailed report but the state asked for more time. The next court hearing is set for December 12.
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