CHENNAI : The work of building 54,460 permanent houses for tsunami-hit people will be completed by December, Revenue and Law Minister I. Periasamy informed the Assembly on Tuesday.

Of this, non-government organisations proposed to undertake the construction of 32,400 houses with the rest to be taken up by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board. Already, 10,750 houses have been built.

Mr. Periasamy, replying to the debate on the demands for grants to Revenue and Law departments, said it had been decided to build about 70,000 more houses for people in vulnerable areas living within one km of the high tide line.

Major component

When the Chief Minister reviewed tsunami relief works in June, he made it clear that at least Rs. 1,000 crore should be spent this year, of which housing would form a major component.

Initially, Rs. 170 crore was sanctioned for the relief measures, which included Rs. 141 crore as additional relief assistance for fishermen for providing additional nets, handy rechargeable lanterns, heavy duty bicycles, life-buoys and insulated ice boxes.

Land tax remission

The Minister announced the remission of land tax for 22 districts, which were hit by floods last year. This would be applicable to 4.9 lakh hectares in the districts. The waiver would amount to about Rs. 11.5 crore.

Buildings for taluk offices

He said buildings for taluk offices would be constructed in Tirukuvalai, Katpadi, Alangulam, Tirukazhukundram, Srirangam, Keezhvelur and Manachanallur this year.

The Kattumannarkoil taluk office would be renovated. All the revenue divisional officers and tashildars would be provided mobile phones.

Separate taluk

The Government decided to make Thandarampattu a separate taluk by bifurcating Chengam taluk in Tiruvannamalai district. Similarly, Athur in Dindigul district would be carved out of Dindigul taluk. The Delimitation Commission's approval would be sought in this regard.

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