CUDDALORE: The Rajasthan Government has deployed about a dozen engineers of its housing board to take up construction in the tsunami-affected areas in Cuddalore district.

The engineers are camping opposite Periyar Government Arts College here busy mobilizing men and materials. Scores of workers are on the job, scooping cement and blue metal to be put into the concrete mixtures.

Loon Karan, an Assistant Engineer (Civil) of the Rajasthan Housing Board, told The Hindu that the Rajasthan Government had sanctioned Rs. 6.26 crores for taking up over 20 works in the tsunami-battered coastal villages in Cuddalore district.

The Rajasthan government had sent teams to help out wherever disasters strike -- Bhuj, Latur, Chandrani, Varsara and so on.

Similarly, after the December tsunami, the Rajasthan Government had chalked up a rehabilitation project, envisaging construction of shelters and improvement of amenities in the tsunami-hit areas.

Mr. Karan said under the rehabilitation project the following works would be taken up: seven school buildings, two children's homes (both to come up at the Service Home on Panruti Road), two hostels (one for backward class students and another for Adi Dravida students), a fish auction hall, 12 fish drying yards and a cyclone shelter.

The engineers were preparing the cement-concrete blocks and poles to make the structures doubly strong. They had already started the construction of the compound wall of the Periyar Government Arts College.

The compound wall was pulled down by the tidal waves, which damaged the laboratories in the college. Mr Karan said the workforce, numbering over 50, had been gathered from various places such as Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Some of the women had brought their children to the work spot and the latter were seen toying with the mud and stones. Mr. Karan, who speaks only Hindi, said he encountered a language problem while communicating with the transporters, engaged for carrying building materials.

More fares

Some times, the transporters disputed the fares and asked for more, citing rain and other reasons. As far as food was concerned there was no problem, as they had arranged to cook on their own. The engineers expected to complete the works in another 12 to 18 months, Mr. Karan added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail