Tamil Nadu   

Construction of shelters nearly complete in Cuddalore

R.K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI: The construction of shelters for tsunami victims in Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts is progressing ahead of the revised schedule.

According to officials, the construction is almost complete in Cuddalore. In Nagapattinam, the worst-affected district where more than 17,000 homes were completely destroyed, work is in progress in 73 locations.

Of the 8,018 deaths in Tamil Nadu, more than 75 per cent (6,065) were reported in Nagapattinam. As many as 1.96 lakh people were evacuated. In Cuddalore, 610 persons died and 99,704 belonging to 51 fishing hamlets in Cuddalore and Chidambaram taluks were classified as severely affected. As many as 61,054 persons were evacuated and provided shelter in temporary camps.

Non-governmental organisations, which had taken work on the houses, requested the Government not to pressure them for early completion. Sources said they had assured the Government that they were working to a schedule and there would be no serious delay. But they were not in a position to speed up merely because the Government wanted them to. As many as 3,500 houses, complete with effluent treatment plant and protected water, have been constructed and handed over to beneficiaries. Both Cuddalore and Nagapattinam did not have the facilities.

A total of over Rs. 380 crore has already been spent in Nagapattinam on various heads: community centres, bridges, fish market, development of harbour, orphanages and homes. Works worth Rs. 600 crore are in the pipeline. "Once completed, the face of Nagapattinam will change for the better. People already refer to the disaster as golden tsunami," said J. Radhakrishnan, Collector, Nagapattinam.

In Cuddalore, most of the 2,323 houses are ready and 1,235 have already been handed over. "We have completed most of the houses. We will hand these over soon," said M.S. Shanmugham, District Revenue Officer (Relief and Rehabilitation). The Assembly elections did not affect the construction of houses or facilities in both districts.

"When we complete all the additional facilities that we have planned, Cuddalore will be among the best districts in terms of infrastructure. This will help both fishermen and others in coastal and adjoining villages to earn more," he said.

Distribution of houses

One of the issues that faced the district authorities after construction related to the modalities of distribution of the houses. .

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