The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Tata model house in 12 days

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 21, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Tata model house in 12 days

R.K. Radhakrishnan

Resettlement soon in Nagapattinam district

FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS: A model house being constructed under the aegis of the Tata Relief Committee at Akkaraipettai in Nagapattinam District. — Photo: M. Moorthy

NAGAPATTINAM: : Resettlement is all set to begin soon in this district, worst-hit by the December 26, 2004 tsunami. Final touches are being given to the first of the model houses at Akkaraipettai.

"The Tata model house will be ready in 10-12 days. After incorporating the changes suggested by users, we hope to begin building all houses soon," said Capt. Rao, Operations-in-Charge, Tata Relief Committee (TRC), Nagapattinam.

The committee plans to construct 900 dwelling units, while the Mata Amritanandamayi Trust will build 550. Together, they will construct homes — subject to government approval — to replace all the ones badly damaged or washed away. A final survey is on to ascertain whether anyone was left out of the earlier exercises.

"In all, 20,800 houses were damaged. We have received offers from non- governmental organisations to construct or repair 19,800 homes," said Collector J. Radhakrishnan.

The beneficiaries visited the model house and suggested changes. The TRC accepted some of them. These included provision of a staircase to the terrace, lofts in the kitchen and the living room and incorporation of `vaastu.'

The staircase and lofts were to ensure safety in the event of flooding. The fishermen realised that their steel lockers did not withstand seawater corrosion; hence, the request for lofts. The Tatas agreed to incorporate `Vaastu' in all houses.

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