Manipur government constructing 3,000 prefabricated houses for people displaced due to ethnic violence

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Manipur government is racing against time to complete the first batch of prefabricated houses to shelter 3,000 families displaced by the ethnic violence so that they can shift from relief camps. Many of those affected by the strife have been sheltering in the temporary relief camps for more than three months.

Superintending Engineer P Brojendro of Manipur Police Housing Corporation Limited, which is undertaking the project, told PTI, «The construction began from June 26 onwards in five different places and we are racing against time to complete the state government's initiative as soon as possible.» Noting that 200 houses being built near Sajiwa Jail in Imphal East district is nearing completion, the official said that each house will have two rooms and a toilet and there will be common kitchens, while ten houses will form a row. Around 160 labourers are working to complete the 200 prefabricated houses, the deadline for which is August 20.

«Materials used for constructing these houses include puff panel for walls, powder-coated aluminium frame for windows and pre-painted CI sheets for roofs,» he said. «The greatest challenge of transporting these materials into Manipur was blockades on the highways of the landlocked state,» he said.

He said labourers for assembling the houses were brought in by flights while the foundation was done by local workers. Prefabricated houses for at least 400 families are being built in the Yaithibi Loukol area in Thoubal district, and another 120 at Kwakta in Bishnupur district.

Similar houses are also being built at Sekmai in Imphal West district and Sawombung in Imphal East. «Completion of the houses, particularly at Kwakta, faced setbacks due to consistent exchange of fire between