Raze and rebuild TNHB units in Coimbatore, demands DMK

Talking to media, DMK MLA N Karthik said that hundreds of people residing in around 960 houses in the TNHB quarters in Singanallur are at risk as their houses have become weak and may collapse any time.

“Despite repeatedly raising the issue, the officials failed to act. The issue of demolition and the building of new TNHB tenements in its place was raised in the Assembly but Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam ruled it out without any concern towards the safety of people,” the MLA said.

The MLA added that he had also raised the issue of the dilapidated condition of the TNHB tenements in the Assembly way back in 2017 and in 2016 too. The TNHB tenements, spread over an area of 17.55 acres, were built 35 years ago.

“Within a short span, the houses have become shattered and are on the verge of collapse due to the use of poor construction materials. People who bought these houses by spending their hard earned money are now in dire straits,” the MLA said.

Recalling the Mettupalayam wall collapse incident killing 17 persons and the death of 16 persons in the collapse of TNHB tenements in Ukkadam a few years ago, Karthik urged the government to make alternative arrangements for people to stay until new houses are built and handed over to the residents.