The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Project Hope houses to come up by October: Vivek Oberoi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 04, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Project Hope houses to come up by October: Vivek Oberoi

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, APRIL 3. Tsunami has come and gone. But actor Vivek Oberoi, under the banner of Project Hope, has plans of making a model village out of the tsunami-hit Pattinacherry village in Karaikal with culture, computers and the cooperative society spirit thrown in.

A major chunk of the Rs. 11-crore-project would go to the construction of more than 300 "strong, secure and solid houses," according to Mr. Oberoi.

The 360 sq. ft houses, each on an 800 sq. ft plot, would not have a ghetto feel what with their gardens and uncluttered layout. They would be completed by October 15 on a 25-acre plot given by the Pondicherry Government, the actor told media persons here today.

Though construction by Bangalore-based Chaithanya Builders would start only by April 13, extensive survey of the land, its topography and the assessment of the villagers' needs were carried out as soon as the Government gave approval by mid-February.

"The villagers don't want to live near the sea for fear of tsunami," said Mr. Oberoi. However, a daily trek by the fisherfolk from their new quarters to the beach have been avoided by dredging up the nearby water body to dock the boats and providing space to keep the nets.

There would also be a commercial area where women of the village could sort fish.

The upcoming refrigeration and ice-making plants, he said, would not only "encourage a cooperative village society" but also provide additional income generation opportunities.

The added advantages would be a computer training centre, an amphitheatre, a school, an all-weather bus stop and a health centre.

A bio-shield consisting palms and casuarinas would round off the new village and protect it from natural disasters.

Though the project would not be complete without money, Mr. Oberoi said he and his team are "raising money and not collecting it."

Non-governmental organisations, corporates and other interested parties have come under the banner of `Project Hope' to complete the various projects. Principle partners in the housing project would send their contribution directly to the builders, he said.

"We are also abiding by what the Pondicherry Government said by putting in 15 per cent of the entire project amount in advance in an earnest money account. That way there won't be any lack of money at the end of the project," said Mr. Oberoi.

Thevanampattinam in Cuddalore would still get help and attention from `Project Hope.' The temporary homes would have cement floors while the fishermen would get more "big nets" and five engines soon, said the actor.

But he is out of Project Hope, Thevanampattinam and away from people who approached him there with "fundamentalist and monetary agendas."

Now Mr. Oberoi is all set to face the camera after April 15. "My producers are asking whether they should be tsunami victims to get my attention."

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