Meeriyabedda: New homes by August

by Naalir Jamaldeen

Seventy five houses will be constructed in Poonagala for families displaced in the Meeriyabedda landslide. The Army has been deployed in the construction work, the Sunday Observer learns.

Meeriyabedde victims lost all their homes and belongings were accomodated in schools and temples in the area -  www.irishtimes.com

Construction work on four model houses has already been completed. Land development work for 15 more houses have also reached the final stages, Plantation Infrastructure Development Ministry Secretary, V. Sivagnanasothy told the Sunday Observer yesterday. He said the Army has deployed up to 140 personnel in this project.

Construction work on the rest of the planned houses is expected to commence early this week after the delivery of building materials to the site. The Badulla District Secretariat is supporting the implementation of the project.

Earlier, Melvin Estate had been selected but because the site was not suitable it was shifted to Poonagala by the new Government, Sivagnanasothy said.

Access road development work is progressing.

The construction work is due to be completed by August and the houses will be handed over to the beneficiaries by the end of August. Each housing unit will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.2 million and will be provided to beneficiaries free of charge, he said.

"It took some more time to purchase materials and to get the approval from the National Building Research Organization (NBRO)," the Secretary said.

The contractor deployed by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) is now engaged in the land development work, he said. The land development work and construction of the remaining 56 houses is expected to commence soon, Sivagnanasothy said.

Already 125 Army personnel have been deployed in the site and expect another 75 will be brought to the site to expedite the construction work, he said.