Jayalalithaa hands over houses to tsunami-hit

As part of government efforts to provide houses to the tsunami hit,Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday handed over 8,251 houses constructed at a cost of Rs 303 crore, to beneficiaries in 11 coastal districts that were affected by the 2004 calamity.

Jayalalithaa handed over the houses through video-conferencing from the Secretariat, an official release here said.

Chief  Jayalalithaa had drawn up the Emergency Tsunami Rehabilitation Scheme in 2005.It was envisaged that 14,364 houses would be built for 444 villages of 11 coastal districts that were severely affected by tsunami on December 26, 2004. In the first phase it was decided to construct 8,251 houses at a cost of Rs 303 crore supported by World Bank.

Cost of construction of an house measuring 325 square foot was Rs 3.75 lakh, it said, adding, each one was insured for 10 years.

State Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development K P Munusamy, Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi and senior government officials participated in the function, the statement added.