Construction begins of 75 houses for Meeriyabadde landslide victims
Tuesday, 5 May 2015 02:20
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The Construction of 75 houses for landslide-affected families in Meeriyabadde has commenced with the initiative taken by the Ministry of Plantation Infrastructure Development.
The Sri Lankan Army has already put up its site office, land clearance has been conducted and the foundation work for the housing program has already commenced. The District Secretary for Badulla has procured materials and delivered them to the site for the Army to begin construction work.
On 29 October 2014 the landslide left 75 families homeless. These affected families were temporarily housed in premises belonging to the Maskeliya Plantation. Most of the victims occupy the Mahakanda factory which houses worker as well as non-worker families. Dry rations are provided by the District Secretary in Badulla. In the temporary shelter, water, toilets and other facilities are provided. According to the office of the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT), on 10 April 2015, there had been a power cut due to heavy rainfall of 112 mm and power had been restored the following day in the temporary accommodation.
Under the 100-day program, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to construct houses in a 550 square feet floor area and provide a total of seven perches of land to those affected, said V. Sivagnanasothy, Secretary of the Ministry of Plantation Infrastructure Development. He added that the program would provide decent housing with landownership with very good designs incorporating space, light and ventilation with access to safe drinking water and sanitation to ensure privacy and a dignified life.
These individual houses will have two bedrooms, a verandah, kitchen and toilets under a ‘village cluster model’ with an access road, water supply, health centres, community halls and child care centres. The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has confirmed that the land is free from landslide-related disasters.
The UDA has designed the plan and the Sri Lankan Army, with its record of quick and quality construction, has commenced construction and hopes to complete work within a short period of time. The Maskeliya Regional Plantation Company has made its contribution to the preparatory work which demonstrates its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Initially the land selected at Malvin Division of the Ampitikanda estate was not acceptable to the beneficiaries due to concerns over schooling and accessibility. Due to this the Ministry of Plantation Infrastructure Development has spoken to the beneficiaries and selected the site at Poonagala Division in the Poonagala Estate of the Maskeliya Plantation in the Badulla District, Sivagnanasothy said. This land was also confirmed by the National Building Research Organization as a geographically stable and disaster-free location. The unit cost per house is Rs. 1.2 million and the houses will be given to the Meeriyabadde landslide victims on a full grant basis. Last week a progress review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Minister of Plantation Infrastructure Development Palani Thigambaram, with the participation of the District Secretary of Badulla, the Sri Lankan Army, Urban Development Authority officials and senior staff of the Plantation Human Development Trust to fast-track the construction of the houses. Every three weeks such high level progress review meetings will be scheduled to review progress and address challenges and issues, if any exist. The Ministry of Plantation Industries has taken the lead in providing freehold title deeds whereby the husband and wife of a family will receive joint ownership of title deeds which will also empower women in the plantation sector. Sivagnanasothy is confident that the 75 houses will be completed within a period of four months and then be handed over to the beneficiaries.
