Houses for endosulfan victims lying vacant: Kerala HC seeks report
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Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Saturday directed the Kasaragod district administration to file a report on a plea alleging that houses constructed by an orphanage trust for the endosulfan victims in 2017 are yet to be handed over to the beneficiaries.
Justice Devan Ramachandran, while hearing a plea filed by the Sri Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust in Kerala, said, "I, therefore, direct the said respondent (Kasaragod District Collector) to visit the area in question and file a report before this Court as to the conditions of the houses, as also whether they intend to take it over and for the benefit of the "Endosulfan victims."
“If the answer is negative, the reasons for the same shall also be made available," the court said in its order.
The court will hear the matter further on September 21.
According to petitioners, out of the 81 houses constructed, many have become dilapidated, and nearly Rs.24,00,000 will be now required to restore it.
The Thiruvananthapuram-based NGO had constructed the houses in 2017 and the government had in an event in the same year handed over keys to over 20 beneficiaries. A few more were also handed over to some more people in subsequent years.
With inputs from PTI