The Tamil Nadu government has announced plans to build 500 new homes for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in the Kottapattu camp in Tiruchi district. The government is currently scouting for suitable property near the existing camp for this construction.
Tamil Nadu hosts 107 refugee camps, with Kottapattu and Mandapam being among the largest. The Kottapattu camp, home to 1,200 refugees, contains 470 houses. Residents have long complained about deteriorating living conditions and called for new housing.
Following a comprehensive study and field reports highlighting the poor condition of many existing houses, the Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils has decided to address the issue.
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A recent high-level meeting at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat approved the construction of new homes, with the state government sanctioning Rs 30 crore for the project.
Land near the current Kottapattu camp has been shortlisted, and construction is set to begin soon. Officials assured that current residents would remain in their existing homes until the new ones are ready. They will only relocate to the new housing after it is completed and allocated.
This initiative follows historical relocations of refugee camps away from coastal areas after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE, which aimed to prevent contact among refugees and imposed movement restrictions.