THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the schools set to reopen next week, Thiruvananthapuram city corporation officials are on a space hunt to relocate the 50-odd fishermen families who lost their houses when high waves hit last week. At present the families have been accommodated at five educational institutions- Valiyathura Fisheries School, Valiyathura UP School, Noorul Islam Arabic College, Beempally and St Anthony’s School.
The option of unoccupied flats in the city is available but the fishermen have reservations in staying at places far from the sea which offers them livelihood. The proposal to build 60 new houses near Muttathara sewage farm to relocate the families has made little progress as other settlers have occupied the space there.
“They will not vacate the place unless they are given some land there,” said Valiyathura councillor Sheeba Patrick. “We need a quick and amicable settlement.” A dozen families can be accommodated at newly- constructed house for mentally ill at Valiyathura, she said.
Village officials of Muttathara and Pettah are entrusted with ensuring essential supplies to the camp. Though rice, grocery, milk and other commodities are provided, the space crunch has forced many families to move to their relatives’ homes.
“We do not have the data on the affected children as many families sent them to relatives’ homes,” Ms Patrick said. Around 50 houses were damaged beyond repairable condition during high waves on May 17.
