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| Sunday, 27 March 2005 |
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Editorial
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Houses for those who were in buffer zone by Jayantha Sri Nissanka The Urban Development Authority (UDA) has so far signed 100 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with donors to build 30,000 houses for tsunami victims who were living within the 100 metre buffer zone. "The UDA signed 40 MoUs last week itself. Many more settlement plans are to be concluded with donors in the coming few weeks", UDA Deputy Director General Nihal Fernando told the Sunday Observer yesterday. Many local companies and NGOs who signed MoUs have already got off the ground. "Construction of houses are now in various stages at present in affected areas", Fernando said. The UDA is building houses for victims who were living in the buffer zone only. Others will be given financial assistance by the Government to reconstruct houses in their own lands, Fernando noted. Each single storey housing unit will have a 500 square foot space. When asked about the total number of houses required he said it would be about 60,000 units. Meanwhile, the Survey General's Department has completed perimeter surveying in 5000 acres. Now the surveyors are engaged in a 'work to rule' trade union action demanding professional status since March 18 capitalising on the urgency of their service at present. From March 9 to 18 they were on a sick leave campaign. Surveyors have been struggling for professional status since 1991. However, many UDA officials fear that there will be a delay of constructing houses for tsunami victims when the UDA completes blocking out plans. But the Urban Development Ministry officials dismissing the fear said that there were about 800 licensed surveyors in the country. "Though about 500 surveyors are old, the balance young surveyors are more than enough to conduct the blocking out plans", officials said. In addition to the permanent housing projects, the Essential Service Commissioner General's (ESCG) office is constructing 30,000 temporary accommodation for tsunami victims. Construction of temporary shelters commenced in Moratuwa recently. Already many NGOs and other organisations are also engaged in constructing temporary shelter for these victims. The ESCG plans to complete 10,000 temporary housing facilities before the April Sinhala-Hindu new year and complete the entire project before the end of May.
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Editorial | Security | Produced by Lake House |
