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Permanent houses for tsunami-hit

Rajesh Nair

Construction of 96 houses progressing; 20 of them nearing completion

IN FULL FLOW: Construction of houses in progress at Pannithittu near Pondicherry — Photo: T. Singaravelou

PONDICHERRY: The first set of permanent houses for tsunami-affected fishermen in Pondicherry region will come up at Pannithittu in two months.

Construction of 96 houses is on and around 20 are nearing completion. India Heritage Research Foundation, an NGO, has taken up the construction. Thirteen masons from Uttaranchal and 70 labourers from West Bengal are engaged in the construction and another batch will join them soon.

Each house will have a built-up area of 313 sq. ft. with kitchen and toilet. Preparatory work for building houses has also started in a number of other coastal villages in Karaikal and Pondicherry regions, B. V. Selvaraj, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner told The Hindu .

Training locals

The Government is planning to train the coastal villagers in Karaikal in masonry, plumbing, electrical and carpentry works. The two-month session will be conducted by the Government ITI. "This will enable them to take part in the construction of their houses," said Mr. Selvaraj.

Delhi-based NGO Development Alternatives, which will construct 150 houses at Kottucherrymedu, has started production of compressed fly-ash bricks. Three days ago, the NGO also signed a memorandum of understanding to construct 500 houses at Kilinjalmedu and another 525 at Karaikalmedu in Karaikal region.

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