TN govt plans to build 17,000 disaster-resistant houses with World Bank

The Tamil Nadu government is planning to build 17,000 disaster-resistant houses, as part of phase II plan, in rural areas. Each house would cost Rs 3 lakh, which is likely to be funded by the World Bank. Meanwhile the government on Tuesday said that works to the tune of Rs 5,074.09 crore were being implemented in 13 tsunami-hit costal districts under various projects.

The government currently is in the process of implementing phase I progamme which is to construct 21,141 houses at a cost of Rs 772 crore under Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation Plan. Already, 1,976 houses have been constructed.

A review meeting, chaired by state Finance Minister K Anbazhagan held at Chennai on Tuesday, to review the progress in infrastructure and livelihood programmes in the tsunami-hit coastal districts which are being implemented with funding from the Centre, Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

The minister said works to the tune of Rs 5,074.09 crore were being implemented in 13 tsunami-hit costal districts under various projects, drawing funds from different sources and multilateral agencies. In three years, works involving expenditure of Rs 1,175 crore have been completed.

Among those who attended the meeting were M K Stalin, deputy chief minister, Durai Murugan, Veerapandi S Arumugam, and I Periasamy, Ministers, K S Sripathi, chief secretary and N Sundaradevan , Principal Secretary/Commissioner, Revenue Administration.

Given an update on tsunami relief and rehabilitation works, he said that in the first phase 39,684 houses had been constructed as on May 31 and 37,904 of them handed over to beneficiaries. Of these houses, 30,302 were built with the help of non-governmental organisations and 9,382 houses by the government. A sum of Rs 268.46 crore was spent on providing basic amenities for these houses.

He also said the state has begun the construction of 11,539 disaster-resistant houses with funds from the Centre for those living in houses built 10 years ago in coastal villages.

The government plans to construct 41,411 such houses 200 metres outside the HTL under the Indira Awaas Yojana. Moreover, the government has ordered construction of 21,141 houses at a cost of Rs 772 crore under Rajiv Gandhi Rehabilitation Plan. Already, 1,976 houses have been constructed.

In the second phase, the government has negotiated with the World Bank for another 17,000 houses that could withstand earthquake and tsunami between 200 and 1000 metres outside the HTL with a projected cost of Rs 3 lakh per house.

A formal approval from the bank is expected in two months. According to the WB deadline, the houses will have to be constructed by the end of 2011 but the state hopes to complete construction 18 months from the day of approval.

Until now, 37,904 permanent houses, built by NGOs and government, have been handed over to beneficiaries, said the minister.