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Modern houses for shanty dwellers

by Channa Kasturisinghe

The slum and shanty dwellers in Wanathamulla area who were provided with modern houses under Sahasapura compact township project have started moving into their new houses in large numbers.

The relocation process which commenced late last year was delayed as the dwellers had to abide by the precondition that they should move into the township after demolishing their previous dwellings. There had also been resistance from some of the dwellers due to misunderstanding, senior official of the REEL Company, the Managing arm of the project told the Daily News.

first compact

This first compact township for relocating slum and shanty dwellers in the Colombo city in Wanathamulla extends to an area of about 200 acres towards Borella junction. Under the first phase of the project the Sahasa building complex, with 671 apartments and over 50 business premises with all modern amenities have been provided.

The construction was done by Pillar Asset (Pvt.) Ltd., commencing in March 1999, monitored by National Building Research Organisation on behalf of the REEL Company, which manages the Thirasara Purawara Program.

"The re-location process which commenced late last year is in progress now. The beneficiaries are from fourteen under-served settlements in the Colombo city two of which are in the vicinity of the Sahasa building complex.

There had been resistance from some of these dwellers due to unforeseen circumstances, but it has changed now.

They are now moving in after demolishing their dwellings. They were given an opportunity to them to encash the building material after dismantling the shanties," the REEL official said.

He said, the beneficiaries get these apartments on house for a house exchange basis, thereby releasing the state lands they were occupying.

Wanathamulla

"The apartments were build at a cost of about Rs. 1,000,000 each inclusive of the upgraded infrastructure facilities.

The township would change the existing landscape in Wanathamulla, where there are thousands of substandard houses in an unhealthy environment," he said.

Wanathamulla, which had been a marshy low lying area to the North of Colombo city was a desolate locality even in the colonial time where prisons and slaughter houses were located. Gradually, this state land was partly given on lease solely for low cost housing for low-income segment of the city dwellers on condition that no perennial crops should be grown.

However, the area became more and more populated with the increase of migrants from villages seeking menial jobs in the city.

Sahasapura

This low lying area was also flood prone when the Kelani river over flowed.

"Sahasapura is a break through in bringing a sustainable solution to this segment of society caught in this vicious circle. The dwellers in 66 Watta which has these flats as well as unauthorised shanties, are amongst the first 671 beneficiaries of the Sahasa building complex.

ownership

All beneficiaries are being given full ownership of the apartments, by which each household gains an immovable wealth worth anything over one million.

If any of them find they are unable to get adjusted to the demands of their new status they still have the option of encashing this wealth they have gained, thereby strengthening their economic standing.

But it appears that the majority of the beneficiaries are overwhelmed with the opportunity they have got to live as acceptable city dwellers," the REEL official said.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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