Coimbatore: While monsoons are a matter of water recharge for many parts of Coimbatore, they have become slow poison in Kandivazhi, a tribal hamlet in the Anaikatti hills as their 30-year-old houses are withering away little by little.
With walls leaking and roofs falling, spending each night in their own houses has become a nightmare for these people.
Coimbatore: While monsoons are a matter of water recharge for many parts of Coimbatore, they have become slow poison in Kandivazhi, a tribal hamlet in the Anaikatti hills as their 30-year-old houses are withering away little by little.
Roofs of almost all the 20 houses built in the foothills of the Western Ghats deep inside the Anaikatti forests, have been damaged over time and the current downpour of this monsoon has made situations even worse.
Despite having orders at their request to construct new houses under the Green Houses project of the State Government, the tribals are not ready to take the offer, as they are unable to pay the remaining sum required to construct a house.
“To build a normal house to accommodate a family, it would easily cost more than Rs. 3 lakh considering the cost of construction materials. But the sum offered by the Government under the scheme is only Rs. 2.1 lakh. Most of the people who live here are daily wagers and it becomes impossible for them to pool in the remaining sum by themselves, said N. Palanisamy, former Ward Member.
In order to get the remaining sum, the tribals have been seeking the help of various organisations through activists in the past. However, not many came forward to support.
“It was the same case with Dhoomanur and Chembukkarai tribal settlements when 44 Green Houses were sanctioned for them. They had to wait for three years before the project could be completed. Sponsorship was made possible through government officials and activists,” said G.P.N. Joshua, a social activist based in Anaikatti.
Officials also claim that the hamlet has been earmarked to be brought under the Green Houses Project. However, added that it was a matter of lack of funds.
“We have ample Green Houses for hamlets in Coimbatore and are ready to offer the initial sum. It is the remaining sum that is delaying the project. If any private organisations come forward and help through their CSR, we can easily complete the project soon,” said Ruban Shankar Raja, Project Director of District Rural Development Agency.
Meanwhile, the hamlet dwellers on the other hand are finding it difficult to cope with situation.
“There are more than ten children in the village and we risk our lives living in these broken houses. There is no guarantee that we will wake up tomorrow. One big rain could bring the houses down easily,” said K. Nagamani, a resident.
K. Nanjappan, another resident added that even small rains flood their houses disrupting their sleep making them abandon their houses and take shelter in less damaged houses.
“Not even a single night we have peaceful sleep. We need to keep wiping the floor to keep the children safe. Request has been made to officials many times in the past. But they have fallen on deaf ears,” said M. Parvathy, a resident.