Thiruvananthapuram: Amid Kerala's repeated requests for a relief package worth Rs 2,000 crore to rehabilitate people displaced by the Wayanad landslides, the central government has sent a letter to the state seeking payment of Rs 132.61 crore for various relief operations carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) since 2006. In the letter sent to the Chief Secretary, the IAF Marshal listed several disasters, including the 2019 floods and the Wayanad landslides.

The bill is for airlifting and rescue operations conducted by the Indian Air Force. The state has been asked to settle the bill immediately.

For the rescue and search operations in the landslide-hit Wayanad, the IAF charged Rs 8,91,23,500 on August 30. The total payment for the Wayanad landslides rescue operations amounts to Rs 69,65,46,417.

In addition to the Wayanad landslides, the IAF also charged for rescue operations during the floods that caused widespread devastation in the state between August 9 and 19, 2019. According to the bill, an amount of Rs 1,10,55,000 is due for services rendered during this natural calamity.

This is not the first time the IAF has sent a bill to Kerala for rescue operations. In 2020, Kerala received a bill of Rs 113.69 crore for rescue operations during the 2018 floods. In 2019, the state was asked to settle bills amounting to Rs 102.6 crore for the use of IAF aircraft and helicopters to airlift people stranded during the 2018 floods.

The state government has not yet responded to the new bill from the IAF.