New apartment complex for fisherfolks: Tender invited

Thiruvananthapuram: The third and the biggest apartment complex so far in the district under Punargeham housing scheme will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 81 crores.
The harbour engineering department has invited tenders from accredited agencies for the 2BHK apartment project. About 400 flats spread over an area of 20,520 sqm will come up for the fishermen community on an eight acre land at Muttathara. The officials said that apart from the seven acres where housing units will be constructed, common amenities will be ensured on the remaining one acre of land.
The fisheries department which implements the Punargeham housing scheme had earlier completed construction of 128 flats at Karode and 20 flats at Beemapally under the scheme. In the new apartment complex coming up at Muttathara, 102 fishermen families who currently live in a godown at Valiyathura will be accommodated. Out of these, two families have constructed individual houses.
About 182 families have been identified as living in rented houses or with relatives. One of the families has purchased a house. Remaining families will be allotted flats at the upcoming apartment complex at Muttathara, officials with fisheries department said.
The government had earlier issued an order transferring eight acres of land under the dairy development department to fisheries department for the purpose of construction of an apartment complex.
‘Punargeham’ housing scheme which aims to rehabilitate families residing within 50 metres of high tide zone will be beneficial to 423 families in the district. The fund is being met using the chief minister's disaster response fund and budget allocation from the department of fisheries.
Each family will receive Rs 10 lakhs as part of the scheme. An amount of Rs 6 lakhs can be spent for purchasing land and Rs 4 lakhs shall be spent for construction of the house if the beneficiary purchases land for construction of the house. If Rs 6 lakhs is not spent on purchase of land, that amount can be used for construction. As per the scheme two cents have been allotted in city limits and three cents have been allotted in rural limits. The cost of land will be directly credited to the beneficiary account. The amount required for house construction will be transferred to the beneficiary account in three instalments.
The families residing in Anchuthengu, Valiyathura, Chirayinkeezhu and Poovar which are highly prone to tidal attacks are the major beneficiaries of this project.
The state government plans to rehabilitate a total 18,685 families across the state as part of the project. The beneficiary list is approved by the district level approval committee headed by district collector.