Declare it as “calamity of severe nature” under MPLADS guidelines: Tharoor to Shah

Congress’s Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has urged Home Minister Amit Shah to declare the Wayanad landslides as a “calamity of severe nature” under the MPLADS guidelines to facilitate urgent assistance from MPs to the affected areas.

In a letter to Shah, Tharoor said, “…I am writing to you to declare this event a ‘Calamity of Severe Nature’ in terms of Paragraph 8.1 of the MPLADS Guidelines which would allow Members of Parliament to recommend works up to Rs 1 crore from their MPLADS funds, for the affected districts/ areas.”

The willing Members of Parliament would then be able to generously contribute funds for relief and rehabilitation works in the areas affected by this tragedy, he said. This will surely be invaluable in supporting the painstaking efforts for rescue, relief and rehabilitation, he said.

The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) enables MPs to suggest and get executed developmental works of a capital nature based on locally felt needs.