96 Lankan refugee families get houses

96 Lankan refugee families get houses

TIRUNELVELI: Of the 208 families living in the Naranammalpuram Sri Lankan refugee camp, 96 families, which are living in a 150-year-old dingy go down, have got houses.
The houses were constructed by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) at a cost of Rs. 1.15 crore on 8.50 hectares of land near Gangaikondan, close to the Tirunelveli–Madurai National Highway.
The decision to construct permanent shelters for these families was taken when government officials visited the camp in mid-2007 to see the pathetic condition of the people in the go down, once used by the British to store ammunition.
Collector G. Prakash identified 20 hectares of land and it was immediately handed over to the Tirunelveli Social Service Society (TSSS) through which the CRS completed the construction within 14 months.
Each house with a plinth area of 200 square feet has a hall, a kitchen and a toilet-cum-bathroom. Though groundwater is very good there, two taps have also been installed in each street to provide drinking water. A playground and park are also available. A ration shop has been established.
“The CRS and the TSSS should consider our request for construction of similar houses for the remaining 112 families as we are prepared to give the land,” said Minister for Backward Classes K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran after receiving the houses from Deputy National Representative of CRS Rev. Fr. Celestine and RC Bishop of Palayamkottai Diocese, the Most Rev. A. Jude Paulraj.
Mr. Ramachandran said the State Government, which had already forwarded a proposal for Rs. 17 crore to the Centre for renovating the houses of 19,598 refugee families with 73,522 persons living in 100-odd camps across the State, was preparing another proposal for Rs. 30 crore. Thanking the CRS and TSSS, the Minister said that construction of 100 houses each in Nattarasankottai and Kaangayam was about to start soon.
“This colony will be a model for other refugee camps which will get houses in a phased manner,” he noted.
Minister for Environment, Youth Welfare and Sports T.P.M. Maideen Khan, who handed over two volleyballs and nets to the youth of the colony, said tennikoit and volleyball courts would be established in all refugee camps.
Mr. Prakash said roads would be laid and electricity provided to the colony within 15 days.
Former Rehabilitation Commissioner Karpoorasundara Pandian, Rehabilitation Commissioner Mohan Pyare, Deputy National Representative of CRS, Rev. Fr. Celestine and RC Bishop of Palayamkottai Diocese, Most Rev. A. Jude Paulraj, MLAs V. Karuppasamy Pandian and N. Maalairaja, Director of TSSS Rev. Fr. A. Joseph Kennedy and others spoke. (Hindu)