Townships for landslides-affected will be completed by December, says Rajan

Minister for Revenue and Housing K.Rajan said that the proposed township for the survivors of the Chooralmala-Mundakkai landslides, which is being built at Elstone Estate in Kalpetta, will be completed by the end of the year.

Overseeing the ongoing construction work on Friday, the Minister said that the government would not abandon the people of Padavettikkunnu, who had not been included on the list of beneficiaries. He said their demands would be positively considered.

The township is expected to accommodate 1,662 people in 410 houses. Of these, the seven-cent plots have been divided for 140 houses while the foundation work has been completed for 51 houses. The Dynamic Cone Penetration Test has been completed for 54 houses while plain cement concrete work has been completed for 41 of them. The foundation works for 19 houses are in progress.

Plot division and preparation for the second phase is progressing fast. A model house will be completed by the end of July despite the adverse climate, the Minister said.

At present 110 employees are stationed at Elstone Estate for construction activities. More employees will be deployed soon to speed up the work.

The township is being built in five zones. Of the 410 houses, 140 are in Zone 1, 51 in Zone 2, 55 in Zone 3, 51 in Zone 4, and 113 in Zone 5. Works on three zones will begin simultaneously in July. The other infrastructure in the township will be set up only after the works of the houses are completed.

“There is a separate account for the funds collected for the construction of the houses. It has not been merged with the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. There is a committee comprising the Chief Minister, Leader of the Opposition and a representative of the sponsors, to monitor the said account. The committee will ensure transparency. Anybody can verify the accounts,” Mr. Rajan said. He added that a complete list of the sponsors will be displayed at the township.

The Minister also warned those who received land and house from voluntary organisations to verify the validity of the documents. He said that the government would continue to distribute the daily allowance of ₹300 to the deserving survivors of the landslide.

District Collector R. Meghasree, Additional District Magistrate K. Devaki, Subcollector Misal Sagar Bharath, and Assistant Collector P.P. Archana were present at the press meet.