Read the full report here:Jaffna-65K-houses-analysis
The team comprising Prof. Priyan Dias, Dr. Rangika Halwatura and architect Varuna de Silva has released their preliminary findings during two-day visit to the peninsula.
The steel houses are around at least double the cost of a block wall house and that it is clear that the way forward is to construct block wall houses, says the analysis.
The steel houses suffer from inadequate foundations, insufficient roof support, risk of steel corrosion despite the coatings provided, poor ventilation, absence of hearth and chimney and poor or non-existent capacity for extension or repair.
Also steel houses have much shorter lifespan, unlikely to create a sense of ownership, and very unlikely to foster the local economy and generate employment, it says
Previously, north chief minister C.V. Vigneswaran has said these steel houses do not suit the environmental and cultural conditions of the people of Thelippalai and Kopay.
Following discussions at cabinet meetings about these steel houses, president Maithripala Sirisena ordered the suspension of their construction.
The contract given to Indian Lakshmi Mittal’s ArcelorMittal is worth more than 20 million US dollars.
– SLM