Kerala CM writes to PM Modi on loan waiver for Wayanad landslide victims
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the restoration of Section 13 of the National Disaster Management Act, 2005, that empowers the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to recommend banks to waive or write off loans or grant fresh loans to persons affected by disasters of severe magnitude.
The chief minister intervened in the matter a day after the Centre informed the Kerala High Court that the section has been removed.
The Centre had also informed that it was unable to write off the loans of the July 2024 Wayanad landslide victims owing to the repeal of the Section 13 from the Act.
'The section enables providing much needed financial relief to the victims of the disaster, who face unexpected crisis and will have to rebuild their lives after incurring heavy losses,' the CM wrote in his letter to Modi.
Pinarayi also pointed out that the provision (Section 13) in the Disaster Management Act is included with humanitarian intent and deleting it amounts to putting victims to added hardship.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'Deeply concerned': India urges Iran & Israel to avoid escalation
File photo: PM Modi NEW DELHI: With Israel launching an unprecedented attack on Iran, India was forced to do another delicate balancing act in its response to the dramatic escalation in West Asia as it underlined the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving underlying issues & offered support for de-escalation efforts. PM Narendra Modi said in a post on X that he received a call from his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, who briefed him about the evolving situation. "I shared India's concerns and emphasised the need for early restoration of peace and stability in the region," said the PM. Citing its close and friendly relations with both countries, Indian government said in a formal response it stood ready to extend all possible support. Ministry of external affairs said India is closely monitoring the evolving situation, including reports related to attacks on nuclear sites. "We are deeply concerned at the recent developments between Iran and Israel," said govt, urging both sides to avoid any escalatory action. Existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised to work towards a de-escalation of the situation and resolving underlying issues, it added. The government also advised Indian nationals in the region to exercise caution, stay safe and follow local security advisories. There are roughly 10,000 Indian nationals in Iran.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Plane crash: British envoy says UK, India working together to establish facts, meets PM Modi
Air India has confirmed that 241 people, including 52 British nationals who were on board the AI171 flight, were killed in the crash. One person, a British citizen, has survived and is currently undergoing treatment for injuries sustained during the accident. The London-bound Air India flight, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad and burst into a ball of fire on Thursday moments after takeoff. Ahmedabad/New Delhi, Jun 13 (PTI) British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron said she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad on Friday and shared condolences on behalf of her country in the face of the tragic plane crash a day ago and underlined that the UK and India are 'working together' to establish facts linked with the accident. Overall, at least 265 people, including some on the ground, were killed in the tragedy after the plane crashed into the BJ Medical College complex in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar area. Talking to PTI in Ahmedabad, Cameron said, 'We have offered consular support to the sole survivor'. 'I have been here since yesterday, visiting the crash site, visiting the hospital, meeting Prime Minister Modi, meeting the first tirelessly for last 24 hours,' she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the scene of the crash and met the injured at the Ahmedabad civil hospital. He spent around 20 minutes at the crash site. Asked about her meeting with the PM, she said, 'I passed condolence from His Majesty the King and the Queen, from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and from our Foreign Secretary, all of whom are really shocked by what they have seen, and want to offer support.' Besides 169 Indians, 53 British, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals were on board the flight that crashed near the Ahmedabad airport. 'My priority here, at the British Deputy High Commission in Ahmedabad, is to make sure British nationals and their families get the support they need. And, that is why we have 24×7 hotlines for people and their families to reach out,' the UK envoy added. In the early hours of Friday, Cameron posted on X that she and her team have 'visited the crash site' and hospital in Ahmedabad and also shared consular helpline details. 'Colleagues in UK & India are working around the clock to gather information and support British nationals affected,' she said. Later, in another post on X, Cameron said, 'I met with Prime Minister @narendramodi this morning. We shared condolences in the face of this tragic accident, and I offered my thanks for the work of tireless first responders here in Ahmedabad.' 'The UK and India are working together to establish the facts. We stand ready to support the families and friends of affected British Nationals – please consult our Travel Advice for updates and contact us on the 24/7 consular helpline: +91 (11) 24192100 (in India) +44 (0) 20 7008 5000 (in the UK),' the British High Commissioner wrote. Investigators on Friday recovered a black box of the fateful flight. 'My thought and prayers are with everybody affected by this crash, particulary those who had loved ones either on the plane or on the ground. But, also it is heartwarming to see the response from both UK and Indian authorities as they are coming together to this crash,' Cameron said. The British national flag flew at half-mast at the British High Commission in Delhi to mourn the loss of lives in the plane crash. The British High Commission in India on Thursday said it was working with local authorities to urgently establish facts about the plane crash and provide support. In its post, the High Commission also shared a link to its travel advisory. On Friday, she also visited Akshardham Temple in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar. 'It was a sad privilege to offer my prayers at Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar today. My thoughts are with the families, friends and loved ones of all those impacted by the devastating plane crash that happened yesterday, particularly communities here in Gujarat and back in the UK,' Cameron said in another X post. PTI PD/KND AMJ AMJ AMJ This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
British-era clock tower near city airport poses flight safety risk
1 2 Patna: A British-era clock tower near Patna's Jayprakash Narayan International Airport has once again emerged as a safety concern for flight operations with airport authorities warning that its height poses a serious obstacle in the approach path for aircraft. The tower's proximity is preventing full utilisation of the already short runway, an issue that has persisted for over a decade. Ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit to Patna on May 29, airport authorities sent a letter to the Bihar govt urging it to address the risk posed by the 56-metre-tall structure, located at the Old Secretariat. The letter reiterated previous requests to reduce the tower's height by at least 10 metres, citing flight safety concerns. Built in 1917, the clock tower stands prominently amidst the greenery of the Old Secretariat complex, which houses offices of ministers and senior bureaucrats. However, its location near the airport makes it a hazard in the flight approach funnel, officials said. "As the clock tower is in close proximity to the airport, because of its height, the entire stretch of the runway cannot be utilised both during take-off as well as during landing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play Chess on Your PC, Free Play Classic Chess Install Now Undo The runway itself is shorter than the required length and even that cannot be tapped to the full length," said a source. A decade ago, an audit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also flagged the structure as an obstacle and recommended a reduction in its height. Despite repeated alerts over the years, no action has been taken to date. The issue was also discussed in the Rajya Sabha during the recent Budget session, where Union civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu acknowledged the limitations of Patna airport. He pointed out that its 2,000-metre runway was too short for full-fledged operations by narrow or wide-body aircraft, affecting the airport's ability to handle international flights, despite its designation as an international facility. Besides the clock tower, other challenges affecting the airport include illegal encroachments in Kaushal Nagar and tall trees in the nearby Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, popularly known as Patna zoo. Asked whether buildings in the surrounding areas posed any additional risks, an airport official said, "As of now, no such case has come to us. Any structure coming within 20km has to take NOC from us. A timely survey is also done in this regard and if any violation is found, local administration is informed." Patna divisional commissioner Chandrashekhar Singh, who also chairs the Airport Environment Management Committee, said a meeting has been scheduled for Monday to review safety concerns related to the airport. "Airport officials will be in the meeting and different problems will be taken and addressed by them," he said. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
