Kochi, March 28 -- Eight months after multiple landslides killed over 260 people and rendered over 2,500 homeless in Wayanad's Meppadi, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the first model township as part of the rehabilitation of the survivors.

According to an official, the township, to be built in Elstone estate near Kalpetta town over 64.4 hectares, will comprise of 430 newly-built homes with 1000 sq ft in seven-cent plots each. Apart from the homes, the township, said the official, will have ancillary facilities such as a market, anganwadi, play areas for kids, overhead water tank, sewage facilities, community centre and public toilets. The state government has deposited Rs.26.5 crore as co...