NHDA built 25,000 houses last year

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) built nearly 25,000 houses during 2011, the year in which the Government’s National Housing Development Program was declared by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

The NHDA had expended over Rs.6 billion to construct the 25,000 houses. Compared to the NHDA’s normal target this is a near three- fold increase in the number of houses constructed by the NHDA annually the Minister said. Several other Government Ministries and agencies such as Urban Settlement Development Authority, Urban Development Authority, Youth Affairs Ministry and Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority have also teamed up with the housing development program.

When the number of houses constructed by these institutions is calculated it could be seen that the Government has built over 50,000 houses last year.

Therefore, the Government has made a massive change in the housing development program within a short span of one year. The Government’s target is to construct one million houses within six years, the Minister said.

Prior to his assuming office, the highest target reached by the NHDA was to construct 10,000 houses per year.

The NHDA had built nearly 7,000 houses.

The highest number of houses constructed during President R. Premadasa tenure of office was nearly 43,000 houses per year. Earlier the maximum housing loan was Rs.15,000.

The Government now gives a minimum of Rs. 100,000 housing loan. However, people could obtain housing loans up to Rs.500,000.

“The NHDA’s target is to construct 50,000 houses during 2012. Rs.10 billion is expected to be invested on housing development this year.

State banks have also pledged to provide financial assistance to implement these housing development projects.