The Board of Directors of HIMUDA in its meeting held here today approved grant of Additional Dearness allowance at the rate of 3 percent to the employees of HIMUDA with effect from 1 July 2017 and grant of 8 percent interim relief with effect from 1 January, 2016.Urban Development, Housing & TCP Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, who is also the- Chairperson of HIMUDA presided over the meeting. She stated that HIMUDA should commit for systematic planning and development of housing colonies as urbanization was taking place rapidly in the state. Its main motto should be to make housing colonies live able and affordable, she added.The Minister said the Board has approved to raise loan of Rs. 37.30 crore for acquisition of 664.00 Kanal land at Narghota in Dharamshala Tehsil of Kangra district from Andhra Bank on government guarantee. It approved to develop parking area at housing colony Hamirpur.She said approval has also been given to develop 36 Cat-III plots at Shubhkhera (Paonta Sahib), construction of five booths at sector-IV, five booth sites in Sector-V and 56 flats at Sector-III of Parwanoo.Sarveen Chaudhary said a scheme was also approved for one time settlement of lease amount by giving rebate of 25 years in case the lease money was deposited in one go. It has been approved to construct the commercial complex at Vikas Nagar, Near Petrol Pump Shimla in which office accommodation will be provided to the various government departments and some commercial property had also been proposed, said the Minister.In addition the Board has also taken decision to fill up the post of Divisional Accountant amongst the Retired Accounts for a period of 6 months. Additional Chief Secretary (Housing, UD & TCP) Tarun Kapoor, Under Secretary (Finance) Rajender Sharma, C.E.O.-cum-Secretary, HIMUDA Dinesh Kashyap and other senior officers attended the meeting.