A&N: PM visit sets delayed rehabilitation project rolling

It took a visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Anadaman-Nicobar for the island’s tsunami-rehabilitation project, pending since Mar...

It took a visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Anadaman-Nicobar for the island’s tsunami-rehabilitation project, pending since March last, to get rolling. Urban Development Ministry has decided to call tenders early next week, and ground work is likely to begin by January-end.

Aim of the project is to build around 8,500 houses at an estimated cost of Rs 6 lakh each for those who lost home and hearth in the tsunami of December 26, 2004. But it got the nod of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) only on December 12, last.

While national-level NGOs would build around 4,000 houses, CPWD and NBCC—would build the rest. While regretting the delay during his interaction with the locals and the island authorities, the PM made it clear that though the government was willing to allow ‘‘flexibility in construction’’, basic parameters had to be properly engineered

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Senior UD officials also said that though the project report, with designs of the houses, was readied in March last by the CPWD in consultation with the island’s authorities, the Tribal Council, NGOs and experts, the final approval was delayed as parleys between the Planning Commission and the Home Ministry dragged on over details such as how many houses to build and where, and with what specifications.

Adding to the confusion was a Parliamentary delegation visiting the affected areas of the island in July last. While the MPs returned with feedback that the locals were unhappy with the housing project designed by the government agencies, NGOs jumped into the fray to have a go at the construction themselves.