Punjab govt to construct one lakh houses for poor people

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday approved in principal a decision to construct 1 lakh houses for the economically weaker section (EWS) at affordable prices by October 2016, reports DHNS from Chandigarh.

Sukhbir also directed the departments concerned to identify land in towns and cities at the earliest for the project.

In a meeting on Tuesday, Sukhbir said Punjab government has planned project to provide reasonably priced houses to all by 2022. The first phase of the project would be completed by October 2016.

He said the houses would be provided at 10 per cent of its total construction cost and will have all basic amenities.

Making the project common for both EWS populace in rural and urban areas, Sukhbir issued directions to the departments concerned to identify land for the project in towns besides exploring the prospects of building affordable houses in villages as well.
He suggested that the houses must have backyard to meet the requirements of rural population.

Badal directed the housing, rural development and panchayats and labour department to study all possibilities to reduce cost of construction, besides taking benefit of all the state and Union government schemes to provide maximum subsidy to the weaker sections of society.