Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, today gave his in principal approval to construct 1 lakh houses for economically weaker sections (EWS) at affordable prices by October 2016. Besides, he also issued directions to concerned departments to identify land in the towns and cities at the earliest to complete this mega welfare project in the stipulated time.In a meeting regarding EWS housing held here on Tuesday, Mr. Badal informed that Punjab Government has planned the project to provide reasonably priced houses to all by 2022 and the first phase of this project would be completed till October 2016 by providing residential accommodation to 1 lakh people living under BPL norms. He added that these houses would be provided at 10 percent of its total construction cost and have all basic amenities.
Making the project common for both EWS populace residing in rural and urban areas, Mr. Badal issued instructions to the concerned departments to identify land for the project in Mandis and towns besides exploring the prospects of building affordable houses in the villages also. He suggested that these houses must have backyard to meet the requirements of rural population.
Stressing on the need of providing inexpensive houses, Mr. Badal directed Housing, Rural Development and Panchayats and Labour department to study all possibilities to reduce costs of construction besides taking benefit of all the state and centre government schemes to provide maximum subsidy to the weaker sections of society.He said that SAD-BJP government was committed to provide house, food and employment to all. Under ‘houses for all’ project Deputy CM has instructed Rural Development and Panchayats, Housing and Labour departments to provide 50000, 25000 and 25000 houses respectively in the urban as well as rural areas.Prominent amongst others present in the meeting included P. S. Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister, A. Venu Prasad Secretary Housing, Vishavjeet Khanna Principal Secretary Labour, Ashok Gupta Secretary Local Bodies, Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Rahul Tiwari both Special Principal Secretaries to Deputy Chief Minister.