COIMBATORE: The demand for safe housing for tribals of Puliyankandi village near Pollachi has grown louder after the roof of a house belonging to a 70-year-old woman collapsed on Friday. The residents have been demanding safe houses for several years, alleging that they are forced to live under the constant threat of collapse in dilapidated houses.
TNIE had previously highlighted the condition of the houses and the threat faced by residents in a report titled '41 tribal group housing units at Puliyankandi lie in ruins' on July 7, 2026.
According to sources, the concrete roof of the house belonging to Karuppathaal (70) broke and fell inside on Friday, leaving the steel frame exposed. The elderly woman had a narrow escape and has now moved to a relative's house nearby, fearing that the remaining portion of the roof may collapse at any time.
"Not just one house; all houses with concrete roofs have crumbling plaster and cracked sidewalls. Rainwater leaks through the roof, and fearing collapse, we have covered the roofs with tarpaulin sheets. The situation poses a serious threat to our safety," said a resident.
More than 200 tribal people lived for three generations at Puliyankandi under Anaimalai taluk, within Kottur Town Panchayat limits. Of the 42 houses, only 37 are currently inhabited, while others have moved out to safer places. Those who cannot afford rent or find an alternative are forced to continue living in the damaged houses, residents said.
When asked, Pollachi Sub-Collector R Ramakrishnasamy told TNIE that there is confusion over which department should take responsibility for repairing the houses, as they were earlier built by the forest department and the area has now been brought under Kottur Town Panchayat. "We will sort out the issue as early as possible," he said.
Condemning the delay, the Tamil Nadu Tribal People's Association has called for a protest. Its president VS Paramasivam alleged that officials were delaying the work, citing jurisdictional confusion, but the delay increases the threat to the lives of tribal people.
"The 42 houses were built in 1996 under the Social Forestry scheme and allotted to tribal families who were evacuated from their native lands during the construction of the Azhiyar dam. The houses were built when the area was under the Udumalpet Forest Range. Later, it was removed from forest jurisdiction and brought under the Town Panchayat. A few years ago, the families received e-pattas for the properties. Officials are now confused whether it comes under the forest, revenue or the local body. But in many tribal villages in the Pollachi region, despite different jurisdictions, people have been provided houses under government schemes. In the same manner, we demand safe houses for Puliyankandi tribals," Paramasivam said.
