Village yet to get over tsunami effect

Kollam: Alappattu village in Kollam, which  bore the brunt of the  2004 tsunami   that  claimed the lives of at least  142 persons, commemorated the ninth anniversary of the disaster  on Thursday in the midst of government's apathy towards the area.

The people offered flowers at the tsunami memorial, aware of the fact that their lives are still in danger as the government has not built Pulimuttu (the protective barrier), which is the basic requirement to save the village from another giant wave.

The people  allege that  Rs 1,441.75 crore allotted as a ‘tsunami package’ for developing the 17-km Vellanathuruthu – Azheekkal stretch, which was most affected in the tsunami, has not been utilized.

“The stretch is still in danger as we don’t have a protective wall on the shore. Around 4,000 houses were built in the area by various agencies, but the infrastructure  remains pathetic,” said R Rajapriyan, panchayat president, Alappattu.

The government built a primary health centre in the area, a major demand of the public, but only the  building has been completed.  Though the centre functions, even the staff pattern has not been  properly set, Rajapriyan alleged.

The PWD road sanctioned in 1995, years prior to the tsunami,  has not been well constructed. Another demand of the people is inclusion of the village in the model fishing village project. But this  has not been considered.