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| Sunday, 24 July 2005 |
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Reconstruction under way as planned - Tittawella by Don Asoka Wijewardena The reconstruction process of the tsunami-affected areas although a formidable task is being worked out as planned. Yet policy decisions are not addressed properly as District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries do not have enough staff to co-ordinate with tsunami reconstruction activities. There is an opportunity to build a modern nation, said TAFREN and Strategic Enterprise Management Agency Chairman Mano Tittawella at a seminar organised by American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AMCHAM) held at the World Trade Centre on July 19. Tittawella disclosed that the Task Force for Relief (TAFOR) had completed 90 per cent of its estimated target of 47,000 transitional housing units. He said that the transitional accommodation had been provided only to those who had homes within the buffer zone and the number stood at 46,500 as of May 31, 2005 and added that by July 15, TAFOR expected all families living in emergency shelters, except those in uncleared areas would move to transitional houses. When asked about the nature of transitional houses, Tittawella explained that the transitional houses, as the word implied was only temporary and therefore might not conform to the best practices in building construction and added that TAFOR and Transitional Accommodation Project (TAP) which had representatives in every district had tried to ensure that the units were constructed to given criteria e.g. minimum area of 400 square feet, one toilet and a shower for 20 persons (average of 4 houses), thereby ensuring an element of comfort. Regarding the Cash Grant Scheme in accordance with the Housing Policy as set out by TAFREN, Tittawella said that all the affected households that were outside the 100-metre buffer zone were entitled to the Cash Grant Scheme offered by the State to build back their homes on their land and added that according to the scheme, houses with over 40 per cent damages were entitled to the Assistance Policy of Rs.250,000 while those with damages less than 40 per cent were entitled to a total of Rs.100,000. Tittawella also noted that the disbursement of the CGS was in stages as the eligibility (based on ownership of the houses) and selection criteria were met, the first instalment was given and as of mid-June 22,794 households had received the 1st instalment which worked through the country's largest State banks, Bank of Ceylon and People's Bank. He also pointed out that lack of skilled labour, difficulty in obtaining
building materials and delays in debris clearance were some of the
shortcomings faced by the Government and added that a better Disaster
Management Program and a better Preparedness Program which would mitigate
damages to communities would also be set up in due course. |
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