Swift progress in housing programs

by Mohammed NAALIR

Shelter takes first place in the life pattern of the human being. Even though the world is achieving the peak of technology some are unable to own a house. On those occasions the Government gives a helping hand to them to solve their shelter problems.

Sri Lanka has pioneered the construction of shelters to the middle class income earners and those who live below the poverty line.

The Government has implemented several housing projects to address those communities. The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) is the only Government institution involved in constructing houses with high technology at lower cost available in Sri Lanka.

Several housing projects have been implemented by the NHDA to cater to the increasing housing needs of the people country-wide including the North and East under the direct guidance of Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff.

The Jana Sevana housing project under the Gama Neguma rural development project, Estate housing programs covering the estate districts to ease the estate workers shelter problems, Jana Sevana Grant program and the housing projects for the tsunami affected fishing community are implemented under the Mahinda Chinthana National Development Drive.

Under the Jana Sevana housing program implemented under the Gama Neguma rural development drive the NHDA will construct 5900 housing units countrywide on a soft recovery basis at a cost of Rs. 370 million to address the shelter problems of middle income earners before the end of this year.

Out of this the construction work on 3023 housing units are in progress and Rs. 125.8 million have been allocated.

NHDA sources added that priority will be given to the Districts according to the need of housing units in the District in the process of housing construction.

Accordingly 448 housing units are being constructed in the Anuradhapura District, while 237 housing units are being constructed in Gampaha District.

There will be 207 housing units in Kandy District, 262 housing units in Kurunegala District, 165 housing units in Batticaloa District, 101 housing units in Jaffna District, 106 housing units in Hambantota District, 122 housing units in Monaragala District and 191 housing units in Puttalam District.

Separately the NHDA has implemented special housing projects targeting fisher families in the country. It is intended to construct 2463 housing units at a cost of Rs. 250 million annually covering 12 estate Districts.

Sixty per cent out of the entire number will be constructed in Nuwara-Eliya District.

Funds for the project will be allocated by the Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry.

Under the Jana Sevana grant housing program 300 housing units will be constructed country-wide for the poorest of the poor in society. The beneficiary family for this project will be selected from the media reports and by NHDA District Managers based on reliable information of the neighbours or villagers. Rupees 35,000 will be granted to a beneficiary family by the NHDA.

The major part of the construction cost will be borne by philanthropists of the relevant area. The donors for the program will be selected at the District Committee meeting of the NHDA chaired by the Government Agent (GA) of the relevant District. Meanwhile the NHDA will construct 125 housing units in the North and East such as Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa Districts.

The NHDA has implemented several housing projects for the fisher community affected by the tsunami under the coordination of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry. This project is funded by the International Food and Agriculture Development Project (IFADP).

The NHDA has implemented housing projects for the fisher families in the Eastern Province and Kalutara District.

The construction work on 210 fishermen housing units in Trincomalee, 160 housing units in Batticaloa, 70 housing units in Kalmunai are progressing.

The fishermen's housing scheme constructed in Kalutara comprising 30 housing units was commissioned recently.

The IFADP allocated Rs. 235 million for the project.