Tafor Chairman visits transitional shelter settlements in South
WITH the completion of settling a vast majority of the displaced
families who were living in tents and camps soon after the tsunami
disaster, in more comfortable 42,000 transitional temporary housing
units, the task now on hand should be to speedily improve the basic
infrastructure facilities such as adequate water supply, improving
sanitation, drainage, garbage disposal, provision of electricity where
these facilities are inadequate, said Tilak Ranaviraja when he addressed
the District Officials and NGO representatives during an inspection tour
of Transitional Shelter Project housing schemes in Kalutara, Galle and
Matara Districts last week-end.
Ranaviraja said the transitional housing project was successfully
carried out exceeding the set targets providing much better facilities
to the tsunami victims. 42,000 units were completed and some more are
under construction.
While infrastructure in a majority of settlements were up to standard
yet there were settlements where these facilities are yet not adequate
and all state agencies handling these matters should work towards
improving these facilities speedily. He also said that there were a few
houses which needed to be upgraded as they had been constructed not
according to specifications laid down.
He was accompanied by officials of the Transitional Housing Project
(TAP) and district officials during the tour also discussed with the
settlers some of the problems and grievances they presented and gave on
the spot directives to attend to them.
The affected tsunami families in these settlements thanked the
Government and the NGOs for providing them with much better
accommodation than in tents.
Each housing unit of minimum floor area of 200-250 sq. feet also has
electricity supplies, water supplies, common toilets and drainage. Made
mostly of wooden planks and metal roofing sheets the floor is cemented
with two feet high walls all round made of cement bricks. Many
settlements have a community centre and a montessori school.
While many were satisfied with the relief provided such as food
rations there were representations made regarding inadequate supplies.
Mr. Ranaviraja gave the necessary directives to improve the supplies.
Certain settlers now wanted several other issues attended to like
transport facilities for children to go to school, and means of pursuing
their livelihood. Mr. Ranaviraja said that these aspects would also be
looked into.
Ranaviraja advised the settlers that they should from themselves into
a society and represent matters as a group instead of individual
representations so that speedy action could be taken to attend to the
grievances.
He said all should co-operate to keep their premises clean and
environmentally sound as they have to live for sometime in these
settlements till permanent shelter is provided.
He also advised the settlers to use the infrastructure facilities
like water supplies and electricity sparingly as they are provided free
of charge and overutilisation would lead to major problems.
He said that only a few more people lived in tents. Steps are being
taken to build more transitional shelters wherever they are needed.
While some who have been given temporary shelters have still kept their
tents, there were some who had expressed willingness to continue to live
in tents because of certain transport problems for schooling of children
etc.
Yet there are some others not affected by Tsunami living in tents
expecting relief. The Authorities will have to look into this aspect
closely and ensure that only the genuinely affected people are provided
relief.
Piyasena Gamage, Minister of Skills Development who also participated
at the discussions thanked the NGOs and all State officials who helped
in the speedy completion of transitional houses. |