‘Jeevan fails to respond to Daily Mirror’
All attempts to contact Estate Infrastructure and Water Supply Minister Jeewan Thondaman for a comment regarding this issue went unanswered. Although a text message via mobile phone was sent seeking a comment, the Minister did not respond until the paper went for publication.
were numerous NGOS, IFRC and SLRCS, Un-habitat functioned as implementing agencies in the earlier phases, but those agencies are not involved in phase four.
“We have been informed by the Indian High Commission that these agencies did not qualify to meet the criteria for tenders before the nomination of agencies was made for this phase. We are told that they have nominated two state entities: NHDA and SEC as the implementing agencies. It is a grant from the GOI. Hence, it is their decision to select the implementation agencies and whether we like it or not we have to accept it. We have only requested the donors to be more vigilant and cautious and appealed for more transparency in good faith,” he said.
Ganesan further said that the TPA was part of the Yahapalanaya Government from 2015-2019. And 4,000 houses under Phase III of the Indian project had been built then.
“The project was overseen by the Hill Country New Villages Estate Infrastructure Minister Palani Thigambaram, who is the TPA Deputy Leader. We performed with maximum transparency. The ministry was only the coordinating agency and the rest was taken care of by the implementing agencies. We have a very proud and honest history in this regard. Current President Ranil Wickremesinghe was our prime minister then. But this time, certain plantation based politicians and their associates have started visiting estates, calling themselves contractors and builders. This has created a semi-chaos and confused situation for the plantation workers. We rightly brought this to the notice of the Indian HC in good faith. Today, we note that the HC has intervened in this process. Hence, we are thankful to
The current Phase Four of the Indian housing project becoming a talking point is an unfortunate development. TPA, is the party that has obtained the largest number of votes from the hill country Tamil community. Our anticipation is that the grant by the Government of India should reach the target group” -Mano Ganesan MP and Tamil Progressive
Alliance Leader
the Indian HC. We are informed that no contracts have been awarded yet. Public tenders will be called for the contractors and subsequently contracts will be awarded by the implementing agencies soon. We urge that all the lawful tender procedures shall be strictly followed,” the MP said.
According to him, the estate housing cooperative societies play vital roles in this project. “But the plantation workers who are members of these societies play a secondary role there. Those who wanted to ensure justice to the poor workers shall take this fact to their notice. TPA will monitor and reveal any bad practices or connections existing between forces. Those who indulge in bad practices may envy us. As the largest party of the hill country Tamil community, we have a legitimate duty by our people. Nobody needs to question our right to intervene which we will do right throughout,” he said.