Chennai:
People in coastal areas who lost their homes in the December 2004 tsunami today had reason to rejoice as Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today inaugurated 5,674 houses, roads and new buildings, constructed at a cost of Rs 253.76 crore, for their benefit.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the houses, roads and buildings through video-conferencing from the Secretariat, here
The houses have been constructed at a cost of Rs 209 crore, 41 km connecting roads built at Rs 23 crore and new buildings constructed at a cost of Rs 21.76 crore, an official release here said.
This is the second phase of the launch of houses after the Chief Minister inaugurated 8,251 houses for those in coastal region last year.
The houses have been constructed in various districts including Villupuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukottai.
The houses, each of 325 square feet and valued at Rs 3.75 lakh, have been built to withstand earthquakes and cyclones and are insured for a 10 year period, the release said.
Ms Jayalalithaa also inaugurated new buildings and bridges constructed at a cost of Rs 44.76 crore under the rural department initiative across various parts of the State, the release said.
Chief Secretary Sheila Balakrishnan, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department, Secretary C V Sankar and senior government officials were present on the occasion.