Centre seeks writers to blame Kerala Govt for Wayanad landslide: Report

The Central government, led by the BJP, is accused of using the devastating landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad to advance its political agenda, as reports suggest that the Press Information Bureau (PIB) is in pursuit of experts to write about the natural disaster to blame the Kerala government for allegedly allowing illegal quarrying.

According to a recent newsletter from The News Minute and Newslaundry, the Union environment ministry has been on a quest to identify writers who can articulate how the Kerala government’s policies on quarrying might have led to the landslides.

This move comes on the heels of statements made by Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav, who has blamed the Kerala government for the tragedy, attributing it to illegal habitation and mining practices permitted by local politicians.

Local environmentalists, however, have contested these claims. They point out that most quarries in Wayanad ceased operations following a 2014 ban, and those that remained active were shut down after the 2018 floods, which had also severely affected the district. The environmentalists argue that the assertion linking quarrying directly to the recent landslides lacks scientific backing, and many experts are unlikely to support this narrative.

The PIB’s efforts reportedly include reaching out to various contacts to find scientists, researchers, or journalists who might be willing to write on the alleged failings of the Kerala government. A document circulated by the PIB included information and news links related to illegal quarrying in Kerala, as well as claims about the state government's failure to address these issues adequately.

The newsletter indicated that three individuals had confirmed being approached by the PIB for recommendations on authors who could critique Kerala’s quarrying policies. Critics have expressed concern that instead of providing concrete data, the Union government is engaging in a “shadow war” by planting information to shift blame.

The conflict has intensified following comments by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who has maintained that the landslides are the result of the Kerala government’s negligence. Yadav has accused the state government of failing to curb illegal mining and encroachment, which he argues contributed significantly to the disaster. He also mentioned a committee formed to develop an eco-sensitive zone, which he claimed the Kerala government had been avoiding.

In response, Kerala’s environmental advocates and officials have refuted these allegations. They highlight that most of the quarrying activities were halted in accordance with environmental regulations and that the remaining quarries were closed post-2018 floods. They argue that blaming quarrying alone oversimplifies the complex factors contributing to the landslides.

The blame game between the Union and state governments has also been fueled by recent statements from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who claimed that his government had issued warnings about heavy rains in late July. However, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has disputed this assertion, with analyses showing that a red alert for extreme rainfall and potential landslides was only issued after the events of July 30.