KOLLAM: The Communist Party of India (M) in Kollam has taken up a remarkable initiative of constructing houses for the homeless natives of Munroe Thuruthu, effectively utilising advanced architectural styles suitable for the sinking islands. The specially designed ‘amphibious houses’ will serve the peculiar geographic condition of the islands that are mostly inundated by water from Ashtamudi Lake. The stone laying function for the first such house was carried out by CPM politburo member S. Rama-chandra Pillai at Pooppani island in Munroe Thuruthu on Friday.
The amphibious houses will help residents overcome the constant threat of flooding in the islands. The houses will be constructed using weightless materials and will have a special design at the bottom to keep the house buoyant in the flood water. The structure of these houses has been set up on poles at a considerable height above the water level which are also immune to the high tide. The low-cost houses will also have chemical toilet facility which helps the waste disposal without harming the fragile environment of the area. The CPM has decided to construct at least one house in each local committee area.
Munroe Thuruthu has been experiencing a strange phenomenon in which several of the houses were found to be sinking in the delta which is formed by loosely constituted soil. “In Munroe Thuruthu, the issue pertains not just to the homeless alone, but the existing houses are also found to be sinking and hence inappropriate to live in. The CPM has taken up the challenge to construct light weight houses for them. The new design will not adversely affect the environment, at the same time keeping it adapted to the conditions there,” CPM district secretary K.N. Balagopal told DC. The amphibious houses are popular in countries including Japan, Vietnam, and Bangladesh where there is a constant threat of flooding.
