Kochi: 3,000 homes to be rebuilt

Kochi: Plans are afoot to complete reconstruction of the more than 3000 houses damaged in floods in Ernakulam district in three months, said dist-rict collector Muhammad Y Safirulla. Paravur taluk is the worst hit where highest number of houses has to be reconstructed, he said during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the first house of the housing project being undertaken in Puthanvelika-ra panchayat.

“This is a massive project which can be made successful through public private participation. The government is already following the method. The new houses will be better than the damaged ones equipped to survive floods and other natural calamities,” the Collector said.

Initially, 50 houses are being constructed under LIFE Mission with the support of NGOs like K Chittilappally Founda-tion and New Delhi based India Inc – for Kerala. V.D Satheesan MLA laid the foundation stone for the first house.
Meanwhile, distribution of financial assistance for reconstruction of houses has begun in the district.
 

According to Mr. Safirulla, five families in Kunnukara panchayat have received the first installment of the financial installment. A total of '9.51 lakh has been distributed. “Steps will be taken to ensure that no deserving family is omitted from the beneficiaries’ list,” he added.

V.D Satheesan MLA stressed the need for mobilizing maximum resources for reconstruction of damaged houses, the most challenging and expensive in Rebuild Kerala project.

Life Mission district coordinator Earnest C. Thomas, panchayat president P.V Laju and representatives of the NGOs also attended.

Meanwhile, there are apprehensions over the errors in beneficiaries’ list prepared after the field visit conducted by college students which might affect the reconstruction initiative.