Housing sector exceeds target

by Ranil WIAJAYAPALA

The Housing Ministry has exceeded the first quarter target for 2011, under the one million housing and settlement development program over a period of six years, initiated in February this year to fulfil housing needs of the country, with the completion of 12,500 new houses countrywide, Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Jayarathna said.

The target for 2011 is 55,000 houses. We have exceeded the target for the first quarter of the year and there is a double demand, he added.

He said with the implementation of this program the demand for new houses has been increased to 20,000 as more people are attracted to the program initiated by the Government.

More areas in the rural sector including the North and East are covered under this program and there is a very big demand from the rural sector. This shows that the government policy has already reached grass-roots level.

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Ministry commenced 'Jana Sevana' program to construct one million houses on February 13, 2011 over a six year period to cater to housing needs of all the segments.This program is being implemented in collaboration with Government Agents, regional level politicians, Provincial Councils and district offices of the National Housing Development Authority, he said.

We are getting support from regional level politicians to get lands and to get leadership for the program. Provincial Council, Local Government bodies and Divisional Secretaries are also supporting the process.

Many of the houses under this program are being constructed under a self-driven program in which the government is providing financial assistance to the poor people to buy building material and construct houses by themselves with the participation of the community and technical assistance from the Housing Development Authority.