Thiruvananthapuram | Senior CPI(M) leader V Sivankutty on Sunday dismissed as "completely baseless" reports alleging structural cracks in houses being constructed for landslide survivors in Wayanad township.

Addressing a press conference here, state General Education Minister Sivankutty said the claims of cracks in the newly built houses were "utter falsehoods" and clarified that Revenue Minister K Rajan had personally visited the site and assessed the situation.

He explained that waterproofing works in the houses were yet to be completed, and pencil markings had been made on areas where minor water seepage was noticed.

"These markings are being misrepresented as cracks by some," the minister claimed.

Accordign to him, the government was exercising utmost vigilance and would not hand over even a single house to beneficiaries without ensuring 100 per cent quality.

The construction contractor, Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society, has been entrusted with maintenance responsibilities for five years.

"To ensure transparency, a portion of the total payment has been withheld by the government and will be released only if no complaints arise during this period," the senior leader said.

Sivankutty said houses would be handed over only after beneficiaries personally inspect them and register their satisfaction.

Although the initial plan was to distribute the houses on April 15, construction work faced minor delays as workers returned to their native places in connection with elections there, he said.

However, 102 houses would be completed soon, and around 178 houses are expected to be handed over by the first week of May, he said adding that the government has also sanctioned up to Rs 1 lakh per house for purchasing furniture.

The minister said the government has been consistently providing rent and other benefits to affected families for the past 20 months and remains committed to safeguarding people's rights.

Taking a swipe at the Congress and its youth wing, Youth Congress, Sivankutty alleged that they were attempting to spread misinformation and questioned them over the alleged "unfulfilled housing promises and unaccounted funds" collected from the public.