September 16, Colombo (LNW): The Tamil Nadu government has approved a fund of INR 300 million for constructing new houses for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in the Kottapattu camp along the Tiruchi-Pudukottai highway.
This initiative is aimed at improving the living conditions of the refugees, many of whom have been residing in these camps for nearly four decades.
Tamil Nadu hosts around 107 rehabilitation camps for Sri Lankan Tamils, with Kottapattu in Tiruchi district and Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district among the largest.
The Kottapattu camp, currently home to approximately 1,200 refugees, consists of 470 houses. However, many of these homes have fallen into disrepair due to age and lack of maintenance.
Despite previous efforts by the state to carry out repairs, the condition of the houses has worsened over the years.
In response to reports on the deteriorating state of these shelters and the appeals made by the camp residents, the Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils has decided to construct new housing units at Kottapattu.
The initiative seeks to provide more durable and suitable living conditions for the camp’s residents.
A senior official from the Tamil Nadu government disclosed that the construction of over 500 new houses is planned, with the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) overseeing the project.
The new houses will be built in close proximity to the current camp, with site identification already underway.
The official assured that the existing residents would not be displaced during the construction phase. They will continue to live in their current accommodations until the new houses are ready for occupation.
