Union Home minister P Chidambaram will review progress in the rehabilitation of the 1500 people, still lodged in relief camps in Kandhamal 10 months after communal riots, during his visit to the district on Friday.
Chidambaram, who is expected to examine if there is need for extending CRPF deployment in the district, would be the second union home minister after Shivraj Patil to tour the district which was rocked by communal riots triggered by the killing of VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati on August 23, 2008.
Of the total 4,600 houses damaged in the riots, more than 4,000 families had received rehabilitation assistance from the state government in the first phase, Special Officer for Kandhamal MS Padhi told PTI. Altogether 1,500 people had availed the assistance in the second phase.
While more than 200 houses had been completely reconstructed within the period, a total of 196 churches, including prayer, halls were damaged and 72 have already taken assistance.
The churches found to be constructed on encroached land had been denied assistance, sources said.
{{/usCountry}}The churches found to be constructed on encroached land had been denied assistance, sources said.
{{/usCountry}}While 1,900 people were in three relief camps barely 10 days ago during the visit of Vice-Chairman of National Commission for Minorities (NCP) M P Pinto, about 400 people had returned to their villages since then.