File picture of a cyclone relief centre in Odisha

Berhampur, April 28: The state government has asked the district administration to ensure speedy construction of 19,303 cyclone resistant houses in the district.

Each 250sqft house is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 3 lakh.

“No revenue officer can take leave until construction of these houses are complete,” said Tara Dutta, additional chief secretary, who was here to review the progress of the project.

The cyclone-resistant houses are being built in five tehsils — Khallikote (4,683 houses), Ganjam (3,602), Chatrapur (2,415), Kanisi (4,056) and Chikiti (3,547). The shelters are being built at 108 villages situated within 5km of the coast with financial assistance from the World Bank.

Dutta reviewed the progress of the project in each tehsil and asked the revenue officers of the respective areas to issue work orders by May 5.

“I have asked the officers to take immediate steps for infrastructure development and take photographs of the site where the houses are going to be built and come to Bhubaneswar by May 7. I will take disciplinary action against the officers if the progress is not satisfactory,” the additional chief secretary said.

Work orders would be issued to those beneficiaries who have their own land. Landless people, who have been identified as beneficiaries by the gram sabha, would be provided 20X40 feet plots by the district administration for this purpose. The decision of the gram sabha would be final.

Ganjam collector Prem Chandra Chowdhury said that roads, electricity and drinking water would be provided to every colony and we have already instructed various departments to initiate steps.

“We have asked the tehsildars to distribute ‘pattas’ of the respective plot and open bank accounts in the name of the beneficiaries by May 5. The progress of the progress would be reviewed every week,” the collector said.