Eighty new houses for Norochcholai families

COLOMBO: The 80 new houses built at Daluwa, Norochcholai to resettle 80 families displaced by the proposed Norochcholai coal power plant will be handed over to the beneficiaries next month, the Power and Energy Ministry said.

Each house costing Rs. 1 million has been built on a 20 perch block and each family will be given a two acre plot of land for cultivation purposes. At the time of handing over the houses each family will be given an ex gratia payment of Rs. 20,000 in addition to a monthly allowance of Rs. 5000 for a period of one year.

The Norochcholai People’s Bank branch has opened a savings account of Rs. 1000 per family for the development of the welfare activities of the beneficiary families, the Ministry added.

The Bank has also volunteered to provide bank loans to these families to launch self-employment schemes. The new housing complex is replete with schools, medical centres, electricity, drinking water and recreation facilities including playgrounds.

Arrangements have also been made to commence a new bus service from Norochcholai to Daluwa for the convenience of these families.

The ministry release said the People of Norochcholai thanked Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne for fulfilling his pledge of providing them with benefits of development at an awareness seminar held at the Norochcholai Power Plant premises recently.