Keralam govt. to consider special rehabilitation package for P&T flats residents

The State government will consider a special package to rehabilitate the affected families at the P&T Apartment Complex at Mundamveli in view of safety concerns, Minister for Local Self-Governments K.M. Shaji told the Assembly on Friday.

Responding to a calling attention motion moved by Mohammed Shiyas, MLA, he said the government was considering a comprehensive investigation into construction defects and corruption allegations regarding the housing complex built under the LIFE Mission Scheme.

“The government is convinced that it is imperative and necessary to take further steps as soon as possible. The procedures for this will be started very soon. Another demand is that they [residents] should get the title deeds. Currently, they are only allowed occupancy on the GCDA [Greater Cochin Development Authority] land. However, details of the rehabilitation process will be examined later as the process is being considered. Not only are many of the housing complexes under the LIFE project stalled, they are also uninhabitable due to unscientific construction,” the Minister said.

He added that the government had already announced a Vigilance investigation and initiated a preliminary inquiry into irregularities in the construction of the housing complex.

“Despite repeated instructions, the Thrissur District Labour Contract Cooperative Society, the contractor, was not ready to carry out the necessary repairs. Subsequently, members of the technical committee formed by the government visited the site and terminated the society, which was responsible for the construction work and did not complete the work as per the contract. However, no investigation was conducted later regarding the losses caused due to the negligence on the part of the agency. The company was only terminated,” said the Minister.