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No takers for tsunami houses in two Puducherry villages

— Photo: T Singaravelou

Ready for occupation: The unoccupied houses at Pudukuppam village near Poornakuppam.

PUDUCHERRY: Several houses constructed for tsunami-affected fishermen in two villages at Puducherry remain unoccupied even a year after the beneficiaries were identified.

Around 250 houses were constructed a year ago in Pannithittu and Pudukuppam by non-governmental agencies and till now the beneficiaries have not moved into the permanent dwelling units.

Some of the beneficiaries have said that they wanted to move into the new houses but the village heads advised them not to occupy it till all the affected fishermen have been provided permanent shelter.

At Pannithittu, the government had worked out the rehabilitation plan for about 100 families living close to the shore. Accordingly, new houses were constructed and the beneficiaries were handed over the ownership title despite opposition from the village panchayat. The village panchayat wanted the government to construct 360 houses for the fishermen residing in the area.

The case was similar in Pudukuppam, where more than 100 houses remained unused as beneficiaries refused to move after directions from village heads.

Officials in the Project Implementation Agency, floated by the government to manage the permanent rehabilitation process, said the loss in terms of manpower and property was “very minimal” in the two villages. Lack of funds and availability of space have compelled the government to restrict the tsunami rehabilitation process to the victims and those living close to the coast, they said.

They said that most of the people who have claimed for housing benefit had relocated to other areas several years ago. Excepting for the two villages, the beneficiaries have moved into the new houses at Puducherry and Karaikal region. Around 300 houses at Veerampattinam constructed by the Maharashtra government would be handed over to fishermen shortly, they said.

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