The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : CPWD to build 7,500 houses for tsunami-hit in Andamans

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 31, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

CPWD to build 7,500 houses for tsunami-hit in Andamans

Special Correspondent

Eventual cost will be about Rs.1,180 crore: Director General

CHENNAI : The Central Public Works Department has begun work on the Rs.738-crore reconstruction project for the benefit of tsunami-affected people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

After declaring open a residential building on the premises of the CPWD quarters in Besant Nagar here on Sunday, A. Chakrabarti, CPWD's Director General Works, said the project envisaged the construction of about 7,500 houses. Six thousand and five hundred houses would come up in the Nicobar group of islands with the rest in the Andaman group of islands. The project included the construction of common facilities for the beneficiaries. Eventually, its cost would be around Rs.1,180 crore. He hinted that the work of constructing 500 houses more would be assigned to the CPWD. Noting that there were several impediments in the construction work of the project, he said most of the construction materials had to be transported from the mainland. Some sites identified were inaccessible while there was no proper jetty in some islands. "Such a project has never been done," he said. Pointing out that the houses were designed for tribals, he said the behavioural pattern of the people was taken into account while planning the construction of the dwelling units. Leaders and representatives of the beneficiaries were consulted.

Asked whether the tribals would be resettled — from one island to another in the process, Mr Chakrabarti replied in the negative. "Earlier, they were near the sea. Hereafter, they will be in safer places." On when the project would be completed, he said the plan was to build all the houses by the end of 2007.

On the impact of the southwest and northeast monsoons on the execution of the project, K. Srinivasan, Additional Director General Works, said though the pace of the work had to slow down during the period.

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

Tamil Nadu