The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : Housing for victims is top priority: Lakhera

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 02, 2005

Other States

Other States - Pondicherry

Housing for victims is top priority: Lakhera

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, JAN. 1. The Pondicherry Government has given priority for providing permanent and safe housing facilities for the villagers rendered homeless in the recent tsunami in Pondicherry and Karaikal regions, the Lt Governor, M.M. Lakhera has said.

Addressing presspersons here today, he said that as many as 8,000 houses would have to be got ready and total expenditure for rehabilitation of the families who lost the houses totally would be about Rs. 160 crores. He said that the Administration had also approached the Maharashtra Government for the technical guidance in designing houses that could withstand the fury of nature.

Mr. Lakhera said that the Pondicherry Administration had in its immediate report to the Centre assessed the damage to infrastructures, houses and also other installations in the coastal pockets. The immediate requirement for the Administration was Rs 440 crores meet the exigency, including restoration of houses. The Centre had initially released Rs 50.5 crores.

The Lt Governor made it clear that houses would be constructed some 200 metres away from the coastline and the multi storied pattern of dwelling units alone would be adopted in view of constraints of sites.

There was immediate need to resettle the villagers and relieve the displaced villagers of the fear psychosis, the Lt Governor said. Most of them did not want to go back to the villages, as they were scared of the tragedy that razed the hamlets on December 26.

He said that the Housing and Urban Development Corporation and also the National Building Development Corporation were also being associated to ensure early rising of the structures in the villages. The plea for protection wall on the entire coastline was a major task, which should be thought of under long term planning.

He said that the Health Minister, E. Valsaraj and the Relief Commisioner, B.V. Selvaraj were now attending meetings convened by the Union Agriculture and other Ministries to evolve the immediate plan for reclamation of the land that had been affected by spread of seawater in Pondicherry and Karaikal regions.

The Chief Secretary, C.S. Khairwal said that according to an assessment the Administration had made on the damage and loss of infrastructure said that as much as Rs 120 crores would be needed for embankment covering the entire 40 km stretch of coastline to protect the coastal areas.

On accommodating the jobless persons in alternative avenues the Lt Governor said that with the Administration intensifying efforts to develop a port and also the Special economic zone there would be opportunities for jobs.

Contributions

As much as Rs 5.54 crore has been raised till today for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The amount included the contribution of Rs 1 crore from the Gujarat Government and Rs 2 crores from Pondicherry Power Corporation Limited, an official source said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News Update

Stories in this Section

Housing for victims is top priority: Lakhera

3 prisoners hospitalised after `suicide attempt'

JIPMER doctors step up medical relief measures

Allergy, asthma awareness urged

Bank takes possession of sugar mill