Uthuru Vasanthaya program:

Around 12,000 houses to be reconstructed

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The Ministry of Housing and Amenities will build and upgrade 12,000 houses at a cost of Rs.2,459 million, in the North, under short and medium term plans of Uthuru Vasanthaya reconstruction program.

A loan of Rs.625 million from the National Housing Development Board (NHDB) is expected to commence this medium-term project, said Director Policy,Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) Dayani Panagoda.

She was speaking on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the northern and eastern regions at a seminar organized by the Chamber of Construction Industry held at Galadari Hotel last week.

Panagoda said that a short-term building project will build 500 new homes in Mannar, Vavuniya, Jaffna and Mullativu. Another building project will construct 1.300 new houses and upgrade 4,250 houses at a cost of Rs.72 million.

There are two sectors of reconstruction as services and infrastructure and Uthuru Vasanthaya reconstruction programs are based on the experience of the Nagenahira Navodaya.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport will rebuild the Vavuniya-Kankasanturai railway track at a cost of Rs.14 billion where the Government has launched Uthuru Mithuru financing campaign.

Citizens groups and private organizations have committed to build railway stations along the way. Hambantota residents have offered to build the Jaffna station and the Civic organization in Galle has pledged to build the Manikulam station, Panagoda said.

Two bus depots in Mullative and Killinochchi will be reconstructed and five depots will be renovated at a cost of Rs.2.1 billion.

However, the rebuilding of the A9 road will be a priority once de-mining is completed. All the roads in Jaffna will be surveyed early next month. Around Rs. 800 million is required to complete the Murunthan-Silawatursa road and work has begun with a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

De-mining, decentralizing infrastructure development and security concerns remain as the challenges faced by the resettlement and infrastructure development process, Panagoda said.

CEO, Chamber of Construction Industry Dakshitha Talgodapitiya said that people involved in the field of construction and related areas will have lot employment opportunities with commencement of these projects and the CCI will support in getting expertise knowledge and skill development required for the industry.