( Building houses for IDPs in North, a Habitat photo)
The government has allocated Rs. 14 billion for high impact resettlement projects in the Northern and Eastern provinces to integrate war affected families into the mainstream of development. The projects are being implemented on a priority basis by the Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Ministry through District Secretaries.
The ministry is implementing housing programmes to build 9,000 housing units for IDP families and 630 housing units for refugee returnee families and 400 housing units for families in the former threatened villages at a cost of Rs.8,024 million. The housing programmes are being implemented through District Secretariats with 3,140 housing units for Jaffna district, 1,035 housing units for Kilinochchi district, 1,035 housing units for Mullaitivu, 1,140 housing units for Mannar district, 910 housing units for Vavuniya, 1,120 units for Trincomalee, 1,000 housing units for Batticaloa, and 165 units for Ampara, 80 units for Puttlam, 240 units for Polonnaruwa and 65 units for Anuradhapura, Ministry Secretary V. Sivagnanasothy said.
Rs.200,000 per house is being provided for 2,400 damaged houses. This includes repairing of 720 damaged houses in Jaffna, 120 units in Kilinochchi, 170 units in Mullaitivu, 200 units in Mannar and 50 units in Vavuniya , 100 units in Trincomalee, 1,000 units in Batticaloa and 100 units in Ampara. Rs. 480 million has been allocated for this.
About 7,600 sanitation units are being implemented at a cost of Rs. 418 million for the IDPs, refugee returnees and conflict affected families.
In Jaffna 1,200 units, Kilinochchi – 1,000 units, Mullaitivu – 1,000 units, Vavuniya 1,000 units, Trincomalee 1,000 units, Batticaloa- 1,000 units, Ampara – 400 units are under implementation.
Rs.100 mn has been allocated for water supply projects in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa whereas the other districts have been allocated between Rs.50 mn to Rs.75mn to provide water supply for the IDPs, refugee returnees and conflict affected families, the secretary said.
Daily News