KOLLAM: It was shortly after 12 noon on December 26, 2004 that the tsunami hit Alapad, claiming 129 lives and destroying a vast area. All that was the work of killer waves, which played havoc for just over 20 minutes.

The devastation called for one of the biggest rescue-and-relief operations ever to be undertaken in the State. It also called for the biggest rehabilitation operation in the history of the State. The bodies of all the dead were recovered and identified. More than 37,000 persons were housed in relief camps. Nearly Rs.23 crores were spent by the District Administration for relief operations, which included search-and-rescue, maintenance of relief camps and compensations.

As per the official assessment, the tsunami had left 2,969 families at Alapad homeless. A good number of houses were totally washed away and others rendered unfit for habitation. The biggest task before the Government was to rehabilitate those who had lost their houses.

It was at that crucial juncture that voluntary organisations rose to the occasion and virtually rushed forward with offers to contribute towards the rehabilitation process. Finally, the task of rebuilding the houses were entrusted to 22 voluntary organisations. The Mata Amritanandamayi Math tops the list by constructing 1,493 houses followed by the Quilon Social Service Society with 570 houses.

Out of the 2,969 houses taken up for construction under the rehabilitation programme, 1,924 houses are disaster resistant houses and the remaining 1,045, normal houses. Each house will have an area of 430 sq ft. All the houses being constructed in Alapad are disaster resistant. The normal houses are constructed on the mainland.

As on December 21, 2005, the construction of 1,610 houses were completed. Out of them 1,248 are disaster resistant houses and 362 normal houses. As per the estimates of the Public Works Department, the single floor disaster resistant houses are being constructed at a cost of Rs.4.25 lakhs each. The double storeyed disaster resistant houses are being constructed at a cost of Rs.4.39 lakhs each and the normal houses at a cost of Rs.2.85 lakhs each. The disaster resistant houses will be having pile foundation to a depth of 7.5 meters. For the purpose of construction, electricity is being provided to the voluntary organisations free of cost. All construction material for the houses have been exempted from Sales Tax. The Fisheries Department had distributed fishing equipment worth Rs.5.26 crores to the tsunami victims out of a total sanctioned relief of Rs.7.7 crores. Agricultural compensation of Rs.30 lakhs was also distributed in Alapad.

As a precaution against such disasters in the future, a sea wall is being constructed along vulnerable points of Alapad. The construction of 1,040 meters of the sea wall is under way. Out of this the cost of constructing 480 meters is being met from the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. Another 1,130 meters of sea wall has been tendered.

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