Houses for tsunami victims in 9 months

Chennai, Aug 8 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu government would construct 70,000 houses at a cost of Rs 1000 crore to be given to tsunami affected people in 13 coastal districts of the State in the next nine months.

Replying to the debate on the demand for grants for his departments, Law and Revenue Minister I Periyasamy said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at a recent meeting ordered District Collectors to expedite work and complete the houses in the said time.

Alleging the previous regime had not fully utilised funds, including those from the World bank, he said the conference had been convened to expedite tsunami relief and rehabilitation work.

Mr Periyasami said the Wasteland Development Programme, under which two acre land would be given to landless farmers, was a long term scheme and would be implemented in phases.

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