Temporary houses for tsunami victims

Feb 25 (IL) Tsunami victims are to be provided temporary shelters costing between Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 35,000 each by the Essential Services Department. Each housing unit would be built to last between 12-18 months.

Issuing a media communiqué yesterday, the Department said these shelters would be put up to a uniform type plan and each two-roomed shelter would have 200-300 square feet of floor area with ventilation.

Commissioner General of Essential Services Tilak Ranwiraja has pledged concessions for NGOs to import materials like timber and roofing for these shelters. Project offices will be set up in the affected districts to coordinate construction activities.

It said that minimum cement would be used for the flooring while walls would be made of wood or cadjan depending on the area.

Only 20 percent of timber will be provided locally while the remaining percentage would be imported with the NGO OXFAM undertaking to provide 31,00 cubic metres of Australian pine timber.