Kerala - Kochi   

Tsunami victims yet to give consent for flats

KOCHI: Even as the district administration is making all out efforts to complete construction of flats for the rehabilitation of those affected by the 2004 tsunami within the scheduled period of March 2010, doubts abound as to how many beneficiaries will actually accept those flats in the end.

The main grouse of the affected families, predominantly fisherfolk, was that the land identified was far away from the seashore thus hampering their livelihood. A reason why, only 207 out of the 486 affected families had consented to live in the flats.

Revenue officials said that though they were aware of the occupational hazard posed by the rehabilitation project, they were helpless owing to the restrictions imposed by the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. It is pointed out that the government cannot afford to violate the CRZ norms even if it was for a rehabilitation project.

A proposal to seek the approval of the government to construct flats on land 50 metres away from the shore for those who had given the consent may find a mention in the next District Level Monitoring Committee.

Affected families in all villages were given compensation ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 25,000 towards repairing houses. The probability of many of these families choosing to live in the repaired houses while treating their flats as an asset or even renting them out cannot be discounted either.

As per initial plans 24 houses were to be constructed in Kuzhupilly panchayat, 48 in Edavanakkad, 33 in Nayarambalam, 54 in Njarakkal, 52 in Elamkunnapuzha, and 275 houses in Chellanam and Kumbalanghi panchayats. However, many disagreed with the government decision to go for flats owing to shortage of land.

Thus, only 13 families in Kuzhupilly panchayat, 47 in Edavanakkad, 12 in Nayarambalam, 17 in Njarakkal, 14 in Elamkunnapuzha and only 104 families out of the identified 275 families gave their consent. Each flat is expected to cost at least Rs. 3.10 lakh for its construction.

“The documentation of 25.55 cents of land in Kuzhupilly, 51 cents in Njarakkal and Elamkunnapuzha where flats are to be constructed is likely this week provided funds are received from the State government,” a revenue official said. About Rs. 2 crore is required towards land value. The land had been deemed fit for construction based on a soil test conducted by the LBS Centre for Science and Technology. The Kerala State Housing Board, which is entrusted with the construction, will start the work once the documentation was over.

Though 62.62 cent and 17 cents of land had been identified in Edavanakkad and Nayarambalam panchayats, the administration was forced to invoke the Land Acquisition Act as the landowners declined to accept the price fixed by the District Level Purchase Committee. Acquisition procedures were on and the LBS Centre for Science and Technology was expected to undertake the soil test for which funds had already been allotted.

In Kumbalanghi 113 cents of land acquired was found unfit for construction by the LBS Centre for Science and Technology forcing acquisition in Chellanam for 104 families in Chellanam, and Kumbalanghi panchayats.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Renewed demand for Jackson albums
A hoax, says green activist
Action against pollution of Periyar
Action against pollution of Periyar
Funds for Kochi unutilised: councillor
Tsunami victims yet to give consent for flats
Semester system: statements sought High Court round-up
‘Muziris project to boost tourism’
Library to commemorate Kamala Suraiya in Pune

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu