In Colombo district:

Over 2,000 acres illegally occupied

*Proposal to construct 7,000 housing units

* Over 83,000 unauthorized, low facility houses

Parliamentary Corr.

Construction, Engineering Services Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday that the extent of land in the Colombo district occupied by unauthorized houses is 2,165 acres.

The Minister in a document tabled in response to a question raised by UPFA Parliamentarian Thilanga Sumathipala noted that there were 83,237 unauthorized and low facility houses in the Colombo district. The document also stated that the number of low facility houses constructed in plots of land lesser than four perches in extent were 107,554. The government has proposed in the budget to construct 7,000 housing units with better facilities for slum dwellers, he said.

The document also noted that it is proposed to establish an Urban Development Fund to meet relocation expenditure to implement urban development programs.

The document also noted that the budget proposed to provide housing units with better facilities for these shanty dwellers and pavement hawkers within the same localities they presently live and operate.