The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) have begun rehabilitation projects for the survivors of the Wayanad landslides at a time the state government has been accused of tardiness.

More than 450 people were killed and several houses destroyed in the multiple landslides that flattened Chooralmala and Mundakkai on July 30. At least 200 people are still missing.

KCBC president Cardinal Cleemis on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a project to provide 100 houses to the landslide-hit families in Vilanagad and Punchirimattam panchayats, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Each house is estimated to cost ₹10 lakh.

The houses will come up under the aegis of the KCBC and the Sulthan Bathery diocese of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church. The Mananthawady, Kozhikode and Thamarassery dioceses are also involved in the venture.

Father Jacob Mavunkal, secretary of the justice, peace and development commission of the KCBC, told The Telegraph that their priority was to ensure speedy relief to the affected families.

“It’s true that the government is moving at a snail’s pace. We had announced the 100-homes project in Wayanad within five days of the devastating landslides. The foundation stone has been laid. Apart from the four dioceses, the Kerala Social Service Forum is coordinating the work. Two national agencies — Caritas India and Catholic Relief Services — are also associated with this. We are planning to complete the work within a year. Depending on the number of families in each household, the area of the houses will go up,” Father Jacob said.

The IUML, the second-largest ally in the Opposition United Democratic Front, has already given ₹15,000 each to the survivors against the state government’s ₹10,000.

The party has also donated taxis, autorickshaws and small shops to traders who lost their livelihood, besides identifying land to build 150 houses for the displaced people.

IUML state secretary C. Mammutty said they had patiently waited for the Pinarayi Vijayan government to act swiftly but to no avail.

“Since the Left Democratic Front government is not showing any seriousness in rehabilitating the displaced people in Wayanad, we decided to expedite the process of providing 150 houses. We aim to complete the project in a time-bound manner. IUML state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal will inaugurate the project in two weeks,” Mammutty said.

He said each 1,000sqft house would cost ₹15 lakh and families could build another floor later if they wished.

A section of the displaced families in Wayanad had recently accused the state government of non-payment of ₹6,000 towards house rent allowance as promised. Many affected families are also peeved with the authorities for the delay in ensuring a proper dwelling.

On Monday, Vijayan had informed Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah that his government had identified two locations in Vythiri taluk to establish sustainable and disaster-resilient townships to rehabilitate the survivors of the Wayanad landslides.

The development came after Siddaramaiah shot off a letter to Vijayan reminding him about Karnataka’s offer to build 100 houses for the survivors, which had failed to elicit any response.