The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Housing scheme for fishermen getting ready

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 23, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Housing scheme for fishermen getting ready

By V.Jayanth

CHENNAI, JAN. 22. The administration in the tsunami-affected districts and the State Government are together firming up plans for permanent housing for fisherfolk who lost their dwelling units.

A final shape is being given to the scheme, which will provide housing for about 1.5 lakh families. The average cost per unit has been pegged at Rs. 50,000. The design is expected to be finalised in the next few days. Central assistance is also expected by then.

Silver lining

According to official sources, land has been identified, especially in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Kanyakumari districts, which were the worst affected. Some of it is government land and the rest is in private hands. "The response from the private parties has been encouraging. Many of them have given their consent in writing, while others have agreed to part with the land. This is the silver lining in this massive task that the Government will take up in the next few weeks," a senior official explains.

Except in the towns, land identified for the scheme will be beyond the 500-metre line from the sea, in conformity with coastal zone regulations. It will be within access to the fishermen so that they do not have to walk too far to venture into the sea. "In identifying the land, we have involved the fisherfolk, the NGOs, village chiefs and landowners to ensure that it is acceptable to all parties and the scheme works out well," said one of the District Collectors, when contacted.

There were problems in municipal areas, especially in towns, where land was difficult to come by. In some cases, the towns themselves were within the 500-metre range of the high tide line and so alternative land was being identified.

In her memorandum to the Centre, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa sought Rs. 750 crores for this component of the relief package on the basis that 1.5 lakh houses needed to be built. The Centre announced a sanction of Rs. 650 crores including Rs. 50 crores for land acquisition. The State Government was confident of bridging the gap with contributions from philanthropists and NGOs who were committed to the scheme.

Once the design was cleared and funds were made available by the Centre, the State administration would go ahead with the construction. It should be able to complete the work in six months to ensure that the fisherfolk have their own shelter ahead of the monsoon season. "That is the Government's plan and goal, but such a major project involves a lot of coordination and work," reasoned an official.

Simultaneously, the planners want to take up preventive measures including a programme to raise plants for strengthening coastal security.

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