The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Vijayawada News : All set for launch of housing scheme in tsunami-hit villages

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 12, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

All set for launch of housing scheme in tsunami-hit villages

Staff Reporter

Cost of construction of houses for fishermen to be around Rs. 40,000

VIJAYAWADA: The district administration is all set to launch a housing scheme in tsunami-hit coastal villages in the district by the end of this month.

The first phase of the scheme, estimated to cost more than Rs. 10 crores, is likely to be completed before the end of this year.

As part of the efforts to rebuild the tsunami-affected coastal villages, the administration has initiated steps to construct about 5,000 pucca houses to the poor and one multi-purpose building each in 29 selected villages.

Basic amenities such as roads and electricity will also be provided to these villages.

Assistance offered by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in terms of money for the rehabilitation of tsunami victims would be utilised in addition to the funds earmarked for housing schemes under different departments.

This would enable more than 2,500 beneficiaries, identified as the poorest among the poor, to get pucca houses without spending money from their pockets.

Other beneficiaries would, however, have to bear 20 to 25 per cent of the total cost of construction.

Orders expected

"The State Government has already cleared the proposal and orders to this effect are expected to be issued this week.

Once we receive the orders, we will start the works and complete the first phase by the end of the year," according to the Joint Collector, P. Sampath Kumar.

According to the estimates, cost of construction of the houses designed for fishermen would be around Rs. 40,000 and that of the ordinary houses would be Rs. 25,000.

Organisations like Social Service Centre, AMG International, CGDP, Joyce Mary Ministries, World Vision and Oxfam came forward to extend their cooperation in the construction of the houses by expressing their willingness to contribute over Rs. 6 crores for the cause.

First phase

Each of the 29 selected coastal villages would get one multi-purpose building which would house a school or a community hall in normal days and would provide shelter to the villagers during calamities like cyclones and floods.

Each building is expected to cost about Rs. 12 lakhs and the construction of 15 buildings would be taken up by the administration in the first phase.

"Two NGOs gave their consent to complete one building each and hand them over to us.

We are receiving proposals from some more NGOs for the construction of the buildings," says Mr. Kumar.

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