The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Work on homes for tsunami-hit set to begin

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Work on homes for tsunami-hit set to begin

R.K. Radhakrishnan

2,100 semi-permanent shelters will be ready before the northeast monsoon

ON DISPLAY: A model of semi-permanent shelter for tsunami-affected families at the Chennai Collectorate. — Photo: Vino John

CHENNAI: The construction of 2,100 semi-permanent shelters for the tsunami-affected, now housed in Kargil Nagar, will commence from Wednesday.

The new site is about two km from Kargil Nagar and the houses will be ready for occupation before the onset of northeast monsoon.

The construction is being taken up because two fires in June destroyed most of the temporary shelters in Kargil Vetri Nagar. Fishermen from Thideer Nagar, Anna Nagar and Kasimedu were housed in these shelters after the December 26 tsunami.

Non-governmental organisations will construct the houses and the Government will provide the utilities and infrastructure.

The People's Acton Movement will be the implementing organisation and ActionAid will fund the venture. Karunalaya is another NGO involved in the construction of the houses. Each house, measuring 10 feet by 15 feet, costs about Rs. 20,000. Every five houses will have a toilet and a washroom and every 20 houses will have a water tap or hand pump. These facilities will be provided by the Government.

The Chennai NGOs Coordination Council (CNCC) is handling the NGO-Government coordination. The CNCC was set up in April this year to coordinate the relief and rehabilitation activities of non-governmental organisations working in Chennai.

The aim was to avoid duplication of work, enhance effective advocacy and increase lobbying power.

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