Top-up loan for Kalaignar housing scheme beneficiaries

CUDDALORE: 

          For the beneficiaries of the Kalaignar Housing Scheme, who find the government aid of Rs. 75,000 inadequate, a “top-up loan” of up to Rs. 20,000 is being extended through the banks on easy terms, according to Collector P. Seetharaman.

         He told The Hindu that a total of 26,118 huts and 33,508 huts in the district would be converted into concrete houses in the first and second phases respectively. The government was releasing the aid in five stages. But, many of the beneficiaries were facing the problem of mobilising funds or start-up capital even for laying the foundation, which might cost about Rs 16,000. Hence, it was proposed to give them the loan under “differential rate of interest scheme” under which 4 per cent interest would be levied and repayment could be made either on a monthly or a quarterly basis, depending upon the income level, for a period of seven years.

            They would also enjoy a moratorium for six months. The Collector earlier attended a function held at Parangipettai under the aegis of Indian Overseas Bank for disbursing top-up loans. He admitted that owing to rains, sand availability was curtailed in the past two months. However, as water flow in the river had come down, 17 traditional sand quarries were revived and sand mining started. Chief Regional Manager of IOB (Puducherry Region) N. Natarajan said that the bank was happy to be associated with such welfare schemes. Loan sanction orders were issued to 25 beneficiaries on Thursday.

               K.Veera Raghava Rao, Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency, V.Sundaramurthy, Chief Manager, IOB, S.Kesavan, Cuddalore district coordinator, R.Pandiadurai, Senior Manager, Parangipettai branch, were present.

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Sand lorry operators begin stir

In protest:Lorries parked on the Manjakuppam Grounds in Cuddalore on Friday.

CUDDALORE:

           Sand lorry operators in Cuddalore district began an indefinite strike on Friday, protesting the government policy to dispense with the practice of employing mechanical devices for sand excavation.

          Several lorries have been parked in the Manjakuppam Grounds here and these would not clear the place until the government comes up with a solution, according to sources at The Cuddalore Taluk Lorry Owners' Association. Starting from December 27, 2010, the government had stopped the excavation of sand using mechanical devices and employed labourers. Considering the growing demand of the construction industry and the volume of sand to be handled every day, it was obvious that the labourers would fall short of expectations, the sources said.

            The manual scooping of sand had caused an inordinate delay in loading operations, which made the vehicles wait at the quarry for days. This, in turn, led to rise in the price of sand and, therefore, the strike had become inevitable, the sources added. The new guideline would not only affect private constructions but also stall the progress of works on concrete houses being built under the Kalaignar Housing Scheme and other public buildings. The association urged the government to immediately restore the mining of sand from the river bed by deploying mechanical devices at the designated places. It also called upon the authorities to take stringent action against those involved in sand smuggling using tractors and bullock carts. The association sought uniform rules on unit levels to be loaded on to the lorries.

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Call to set up brick-kilns in villages: Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam

CUDDALORE:

           Construction of concrete houses under the Kalaignar Housing Scheme has been going on in a brisk pace all over the State. However, it has put pressure on the availability of bricks. Therefore, villagers should come forward to set up brick-kilns, said Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam.

            He was speaking at a function held at B.Mutlur near here to give away identity cards to beneficiaries under the housing scheme. The Minister said that to encourage brick-making, the government was offering 35 per cent subsidy on the project cost. Setting up more such units would help the authorities tide over the problem of brick shortage, he said. Mr. Pannerselvam also handed over ID cards to 10,429 beneficiaries drawn from 41 villages.

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ID cards given to beneficiaries of the Kalaignar Housing Scheme

 

Finance Minister K. Anbalagan giving away identity card to a beneficiary of the Kalaignar Housing Scheme in Cuddalore on Wednesday. Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam is in the picture. 

 

CUDDALORE: 

           Of the several welfare schemes launched by the Karunanidhi government for the benefit of the poor and the downtrodden, the Kalaignar Housing Scheme stands out, said K. Anbalagan, Finance Minister.

         He was speaking at the function held at the Town Hall here to give away identity cards to the beneficiaries under the housing scheme on Wednesday. Mr. Anbalagan said that under the scheme 21 lakh huts would be transformed into concrete houses in the next six years. Of these, three lakh houses would be completed this year.

            As far as Cuddalore district is concerned, 1,66,327 families are found eligible to get the benefit under the scheme. This year 26,119 houses would be built and the remaining beneficiaries would be given the identity cards (carrying the photographs of the beneficiaries along with the details such as their names, where and when the houses to be built) during this month. He noted that at the time of launching the scheme, the Chief Minister had allotted Rs. 50,000 for construction of each house but later he raised the allocation to Rs. 75,000 per unit.

           Mr. Anbalagan claimed that nowhere in the country so much assistance was given by the government for house construction. Mr. Anbalagan further said that in 1972, Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board was formed to accommodate the shelter-less poor in the multi-storied buildings. So far, the government had constructed 125 Periyar Memorial Samathuvapurams across the State.

           Each Samathuvapuram housed all communities thus paving the way for communal amity. Health Minister M.R.K.Panneerselvam listed out the various schemes, including the marriage assistance scheme and the child delivery assistance scheme, being implemented for the poor. District Collector P.Seetharaman said that the Chief Minister had sanctioned a sum of Rs. 195.89 crore for construction of 26,119 concrete houses this year. The construction work that had been hampered by the recent spell of rain would resume soon.

           The Collector also noted that for making Vadalur a tourist destination, the government had sanctioned Rs. 5 crore. G.Aiyappan, Saba.Rajendran and D.Ravikumar, MLAs, Cuddalore Municipal Chairman T.Thangarasu, Vice-Chairman Thamaraiselvan and others participated.

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Concrete houses sought for flood-hit families

CUDDALORE: 

           Kattumannarkoil constituency MLA D. Ravikumar has called upon the State government to provide concrete houses under the Kalaignar Housing Scheme to the deserving families which have lost their huts in the floods.

          In a representation handed over to Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin during his visit here on Monday, Mr. Ravikumar said that the entire Cuddalore district, particularly villages in the Kattumannarkoil Assembly constituency, suffered extensive damage to crops and houses.

          Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's announcement of Rs. 5,000 solatium to damaged houses had come as a consolation to the affected people. However, the MLA demanded a compensation of Rs. 15,000 per hectare of crop losses. Mr. Ravikumar also urged the government to distribute textbooks and uniform to students in the marooned areas, compensation to artisans and fishermen who had lost their livelihood for about a fortnight at a stretch and provide 30 days' work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to farm labourers.

            He suggested strengthening of the banks of the Velliangal Odai, the Old Kollidam and the Manavaikkal.

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Rs.232 cr. to Cuddalore for flood control: Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam.

CUDDALORE: 

                Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has sanctioned a sum of Rs.232 crore for taking up permanent flood control measures in Cuddalore district, according to Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam.

           The Minister was speaking at a function at Lalpet near here for distribution of over 5,600 free colour television sets on Sunday. Since Cuddalore was located in a highly vulnerable area, it was facing the problem of recurring floods. The funds earmarked for flood management would be utilised for strengthening the river banks and tank bunds, and deepening of the water sources. Of this, an amount of Rs.68.41 crore had been set aside for desilting the irrigation canals and reinforcing the bunds.

             The Minister further said that during rainy season the banks of the Kollidam used to breach at many places, inundating the housing colonies and farm lands, thereby causing huge losses. Therefore, to enable the river to carry the excess flow its banks would be strengthened at a cost of Rs.108 crore. He hoped that after the completion of all these works permanent flood control measures would be in place in the district.

              Mr. Panneerselvam said that in the past four years the district had benefited a great deal from various welfare schemes. For instance, 5,831 persons were given financial assistance to the tune of Rs.39.83 crore for child birth, 5,893 beneficiaries were given life-saving treatment worth Rs.17.65 crore and 26,119 families were brought under the purview of the Kalaignar Housing Scheme. The Minister noted that in the Annamalai Nagar Town Panchayat 115 works were completed at a cost of Rs.2.98 crore and in the Lalpet Town Panchayat seven works were executed at a cost of Rs.2.58 crore. In Lalpet, road works would be taken up soon at a cost of Rs.62.30 lakh.

               Free colour television sets were given away to 5,12,572 families in 682 panchayats and 12 town panchayats in the district, the Minister added. District Collector P. Seetharaman said that the flood control measures would include strengthening of the banks of the Penniyar from Kandrakottai to Melpattamapakkam and that of the Gedilam at Arasur.

Anaikkarai bridge

                Earlier, the Minister inspected the renovation works on the Anaikkarai bridge being carried out at a cost of Rs.6.21 crore. He told the media that the bridge would be thrown open to traffic on March 1, 2011. Since the 176-year-old bridge had become weakened at certain points the repair works had become necessary. Seventy sluices were being concretised and their shutters being repaired, the Minister added.

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