'Rebuilding Kerala To Withstand Natural Disasters Is A Colossal Task'

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is not a man to mince words, nor to shirk responsibility. Over the past three years, he has led the Left Democratic Front government through triumph and adversity. Even his critics agree that the 74-year-old Communist leader’s stock would have been higher if not for the series of natural disasters that have hit the state. After the ‘flood of the century’ in 2018, the state has been hit by another deluge this year. As rescue operations continue, the chief minister talked to Jeemon Jacob about the challenges ahead. Excerpts:

- Jeemon Jacob

Q. Kerala has been hit by floods again. Per reports, more than hundred people have been killed by landslides. How bad is the situation on the ground?

This is a difficult time. We are battling a second flood within a year. North Kerala has been hit particularly hard—I have just returned from a visit to the flood zones. The rains have broken for now, and the situation is improving in the hill areas. We have yet to take full stock of the situation, but the damage is huge. However, I’m optimistic that we will be able to overcome this too, with the support of the people. Calamities have taught us a great lesson— we have to stand together when we are in danger. We have created a model of unity while fighting disasters. It’s a great model, acknowledged among the best practices in the world, but we need more. Now we need a new development culture to save the state. We will take the advice of experts on the causes of these natural calamities hitting the state with such regularity. We have to review all construction work in flood-affected regions and prepare a policy for eco-friendly development. We can’t afford to lose any more lives.

Q. You have completed three years in government. What do you consider your major achievements?

We have been working toward the comprehensive development of the state with a multi-level strategy—long-term infrastructure development projects, and in the short term, relief measures to provide succour to our disadvantaged sections.