Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will hand over keys to 332 newly constructed flats at Muttathara built under the Fisheries department’s Punargeham rehabilitation project for fishing communities on Thursday (August 7).
The flats are part of the first phase of a 400-flat housing complex envisaged to rehabilitate fisherfolk displaced by recurring sea surges and erosion. The scheme aims at relocating families residing within 50 metres of the high tide line to safer zones.
Addressing a media conference here on Wednesday, Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian said the housing units, spread across 50 blocks with eight flats in each, are constructed over two floors. Each unit, costing over ₹20 lakh, comes with essential infrastructure, including roads, drainage systems, footpaths and compound walls.
₹81 cr. for project
The construction at the Muttathara site began on February 10, 2023, on eight acres of land transferred from the Dairy Development department. The State government had sanctioned ₹81 crore for the project.
The delay in receiving environmental clearance from the Central government has hindered the construction of the remaining 68 flats in the complex, the Minister said.
The State government is also moving forward with similar housing projects in other parts of the district. These include 168 flats at Veli, 24 flats near St. Antony’s School in Valiyathura, and 168 individual houses sanctioned for construction this year.
According to Mr. Cherian, 9,104 families have expressed willingness to relocate under the Punargeham scheme. As many as 4,421 families have identified land and received approval from the respective district-level committee. While 2,488 families have constructed their houses, the works of 779 buildings are progressing.
Rehabilitation for 2,878
Flat complexes that have been completed under the scheme have been commissioned at Karode (128 units), Beemapally (20 units), QSS colony in Kollam (114 units) and Ponnani (128 units). A total of 2,878 have secured rehabilitation through the project, he pointed out.
Besides, many more have received houses through the Life Mission. In the Phase II of the initiative targeting homeless beneficiaries, 23,356 fisherfolk beneficiaries were identified. Among them, 16,086 have signed agreements, while construction is complete in 14,068 cases.
Of the 14,1879 approved beneficiaries for the Phase III meant for applicants who do not possess both land and house, 555 people have signed agreements and 281 have completed their constructions.
Published – August 06, 2025 09:21 pm IST
