Facelift for Colombo’s `underserved’ settlements

by Mohammed Naalir

The Government has focused considerable attention towards improving the quality of under served settlements in the Colombo city under the “Nagamu Purawara” program on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Housing and Common Amenities Ministry sources said.

Accordingly 1492 `under served’ settlements have been identified in Colombo city for rehabilitation.

In the first phase of the program 354 `under served’ housing units will be renovated. National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) has taken over the responsibility of renovating 91 `under served’ housing units out of 354 which are maintained by the NHDA.

According to the Ministry sources basically identified problems of these `under served’ settlements are common toilets, drinking water, community centre and roads.The Ministry sources added that the President has directed to complete renovation work within five weeks. Under the guidance of President Rajapaksa the NHDA will renovate five projects namely the Orugodawatta-Nawagampura housing scheme (Baseline Road), Kollupitiya-Muhandiramwatta housing scheme, Mattakkuliya-585 Watta housing scheme and Kirulapana-Kirulapura housing scheme.

The renovation work on these `under served’ housing schemes have already been initiated by the NHDA. On the directive of Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff Community Development Societies (CDSs) have been formulated in every scheme on the basis of one for each.

The CDSs will be the main body of decision making in connection with the utilisation of labour and spending the funds.

The NHDA will provide technical supervision while providing needed materials. After renovation is completed, the houses will be handed over to the people under the supervision of the NHDA. All these housing projects will be maintained by CDSs under the direct supervision of NHDA.