Kalpetta: The foundation works for 10 houses has been completed as part of the rehabilitation housing project for the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide victims. A total of 410 houses will be constructed at Elstone Estate, Pulppara Division. For this purpose, the estate has been divided into five zones for the phased construction. Currently, construction is going on in Zone One, where 99 houses are to be built. Of these, plots have been prepared for 60 houses and footing work has been completed for eight, according to officials of the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, which is overseeing the construction.

The slab concreting work of the first house built as a model, which marked the beginning of construction, is also progressing. It is learnt that concreting can be completed by May 15. The houses are being built using a fully framed column structure. The construction takes into account seismic loads to ensure resistance to natural disasters. The plan is to complete the building construction within six months taking into account the frequent rains and the upcoming monsoon.

Each house will include two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a dining room. Staircases have been provided to the upper floor from outside considering the beneficiaries’ interest in generating income. The government has also acquired land for the construction of a community center, including a factory. Construction activities for this will also begin soon. Within a month, work on other supporting infrastructure included in the township will also commence.

The plot has a total road length of 11 kilometers. This includes a 12-meter-wide main road covering one kilometer, a 9-meter-wide secondary road, and 5-meter-wide roads between the houses in each zone. The construction of these roads will begin at a later stage.