Heavy rains have caused significant damage to an apartment complex in Idukki, built two years ago as part of the Government of Kerala’s LIFE Mission, which aims to construct homes for the poor. Reports have emerged of wall leaks and ceilings peeling off in the building, which was estimated to have cost over six crore rupees to construct. Nearly 40 families residing across four floors have complained of unsafe conditions.
According to the LIFE Mission report released in November 2024, as many as 4,22,536 houses have been built for people without land or homes of their own in the state. The apartment project in Idukki — located in Karimannur, Thodupuzha — was constructed using Light Gauge Steel Frame (LGSF) technology, the standard method employed under the LIFE Mission, said Chief Executive Officer Suraj Shaji.
“Initial assessment indicates that the damage was caused by extreme monsoon conditions. We have begun repair work with the same contractors who undertook the building. Engineers are currently assessing the situation,” Suraj told TNM.
LGSF technology uses thin steel, often pre-fabricated and assembled on-site. It is intended to speed up construction, reduce waste, and improve sustainability. However, several families living in the apartment complex have expressed disappointment over the poor condition of the homes handed over to them by the government.