KOCHI: Kerala HC on Friday pulled up Union government for its delay in taking a definite stand on granting loan waiver to those affected by the July 2024 landslides at Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad. The Centre cited omission of a relevant section in the Disaster Management Act. The court was hearing a suo motu petition on rehabilitation of the landslide victims.Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and P M Manoj observed the Centre cannot take the position that it lacks the power to waive loans for the landslide victims due to the omission of Section 13 of the Act, which earlier empowered the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to recommend relief in repayment of loans.“We want to know categorically, through an affidavit filed by someone responsible in Union government, whether they are stating that they do not have the power to direct banks to waive loans. We can understand a reluctance to act, but at least have the courage to say so. The decision must be taken by the Union govt. Let the Union take a decision,” court said. While NDMA might no longer have the statutory authority to recommend such relief, the Union government still retains residual powers to take a decision, the court said.

The landslides had claimed 298 lives and caused extensive property destruction.