Monsoon nears, but calamity victims yet to get houses

Victims of natural calamity, who have lost their houses, hold their breath in anticipation as there are only a few days left for the monsoon to enter Kodagu district.

Even after nine months, many victims have not moved to their new houses being constructed by the district administration.

Not even a single house has been occupied by the beneficiaries as the work on the houses is incomplete.

The people have been requesting the officials to handover the houses before the monsoon.

Hundreds of people lost their houses and thousands were displaced due to the devastation caused by heavy rain, floods and landslides during last August.

Many of the victims are now living in rented houses, with the monthly assistance of Rs 10,000 being provided by the government.

433 houses in first phase

Sites were identified on 78.46 acres of land in Karnangeri, Biligeri, Galibeedu, Made and Jamburu and 433 houses are being constructed in the first phase.

Karnataka Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation has taken up the work on the construction of houses. A 2 BHK house is constructed at a cost of Rs 9.85 lakh each.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had initiated the work in Jamburu village on December 8.

Latest technology was used to accelerate the work and it was aimed at completing the work on the houses within three months. But, the work was hit by inordinate delay, creating apprehensions among the victims of the natural calamity.

Work on 35 houses has been completed in Karnangeri in Madikeri. However, works on painting, electrification and construction of road and stormwater drains are yet to be taken up. Right now, only 35 houses are ready to be handed over to the victims, said Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Engineer Srinivas.

“Work on 69 houses at Made rehabilitation site and 86 houses in Jambur has reached the roof level. The progress of the work of other houses is in various stages. The foundation for 200 houses taken up by Infosys Foundation has been completed. It has been decided to hand over 150 of these houses to the government. The Nirmiti Kendra will provide basis facilities. The work on the houses in all three rehabilitation
sites will be complete by July end,” he said.

As many as 53 victims had opted to construct houses on their own sites. After a site inspection by the revenue officials, the district administration had released Rs 9.85 lakh in four installments. Several of these victims have started the construction works.

Protests after May 23

Some of the natural calamity victims have decided to stage protests after the Lok Sabha election results are announced, as the houses have not been handed over to them. Organisations have announced support to the victims. Recently, during a meeting of BJP, MLA K G Bopaiah had warned of staging a protest after May 23.