THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thanal housing project, an ambitious initiative by the city corporation to rehabilitate residents of Vikalanga Colony in Muttathara, remains a non-starter due to an inordinate delay in securing a technical sanction.
Uralungal Labour Construction Cooperative Society (ULCCS), which was awarded the construction contract last year, submitted the project estimate to corporation two months ago. It cited that total cost would exceed the initial estimate of Rs 20 crore. However, corporation is yet to approve technical sanction for the two-storey residential complex. Currently, 99 families reside in the colony and an anganwadi under difficult living conditions.
“This delay is an example of corporation’s inefficiency. Most residents are struggling to make ends meet. Even after tendering the project last year, corporation has done nothing to move it forward. Their failure in governance is the sole reason for the cost escalation. The opposition will raise this issue at the next council meeting,” said MR Gopan, opposition leader and BJP ward councillor.
According to the contractor, works, including the building’s foundation, can start only after receiving technical sanction to the estimate. “Cost of the project is likely to increase. That’s why we submitted the revised estimate. Once we receive technical sanction, we will start the construction,” said an ULCCS official.
Meanwhile, Shajida Nazar, development standing committee chairperson and Vallakadavu ward councillor, said that corporation would hold a steering committee soon to address the issue. “The contractor submitted the estimate by evaluating the cost of each house. The total cost may escalate from Rs 20 crore. So we will negotiate with the contractor and the chief engineer concerned will be assigned to complete the procedures soon. However, it won’t be delayed and technical sanction will be given before March 31,” she said.
Earlier, the project was delayed due to objections from nearby residents in Bangladesh Colony and clearance from Airports Authority of India (AAI). However, corporation secured AAI’s no objection certificate last year regarding the height restriction of buildings. Though the project was originally designed as a three-storey building complex, it was later scaled down as two-storey building due to AAI restrictions.
Thanal housing project spans two acres, initially set aside for rehabilitating fishermen affected by sea erosion, and will provide housing to 136 families. Each block will have four houses with each apartment of 550sq ft. Presently, soil test at the location has been completed. On beginning the project, it will be completed in 18 months.
The settlement of disabled people came into existence around 48 years ago at Muttathara. As the residents mainly comprised people with disabilities, the colony came to be called ‘Vikalanga Colony’.
