Panel to inspect quality of houses for tsunami victims
Special Correspondent
PIL petition has sought action against Salvation Agency
“The construction is substandard, dangerous”
Agency asked to file a report in six weeks
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has set up a committee of experts to inspect the quality of houses constructed by the India South-Eastern Territory of the Salvation Agency for tsunami victims in Nagapattinam district.
Passing orders on a public interest litigation petition filed by A. Subbaian of Uzhavar Nagar in North Poigainallur, the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice P. Jyothimani, said: “We direct the Chief Engineer (Buildings) of the Public Works Department, along with one expert civil engineer to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, to inspect the houses constructed by the respondent (Salvation Agency) at North Poigainallur, Uzhavar Nagar, and report the nature, quality and construction to be put up by the respondent to the District Collector.”
It asked the Collector to ensure that Salvation Agency put up a proper construction in accordance with the committee’s report, and file a report before the court in six weeks.
The petitioner sought action against Salvation Agency for building “illegal and substandard houses” for him and other tsunami victims in the Uzhavar Nagar area. “The construction was substandard, very bad and dangerous to live in and cannot be occupied.”
Salvation Agency, based on the government decision to build temporary group houses for tsunami victims, laid the foundation for constructing 44 houses in September 2005.
He submitted that Salvation Agency itself gave an undertaking to rectify the defects noticed by the Collector and others.
Matter adjourned
The Bench has adjourned the matter to November 6 for further proceedings.
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