Flats to overcome dwindling building space

Nethali Struys

Under governmental guidance the Urban Development Authority (UDA), National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) and the Urban Settlement Development Authority (USDA) are carrying out a number of programmes to fulfill the dream of every family in the country to living in a house of their own, said USDA Chairman Palitha Gamage.

A survey has shown that around 65,000 houses (51 percent) in Colombo are those in privileged settlements. The government has decided to build flats with a view to overcome the lack of building space for individual houses. Around 17,000 houses are being built by the UDA. Further constructions are being carried out in Beruwala, Paramulla and in Angulana.

"Resettling people who are used to live in slums is a bit of a task," the Chairman pointed out. Therefore under the USDA a special programme titled of "Swashakthi" has been introduced, he added. Uplifting the socio-economic standards of the people living in urban settlements with deficient facilities is the objective of this exercise.

It covers all urban regions in Sri Lanka including 150,000 settlement units in urban regions of Greater Colombo.

About 10 programmes including a micro financial loan programme, a vocational training, education and cultural promotion, urban agriculture promotion, programme for solid waste management, self employment and home industry promotion programmes are to be carried out. Further, the programme to discourage tobacco and alcohol use too are to be implemented. A social, economic and cultural development programme is also to be carried out," he said.

"In order to adapt people for a much more effective Financial Management system, a number of awareness programmes are to be carried out and afterwards arrangements have been made to provide loans from the National Development Trust Fund (NDTF). "Further bank accounts will be opened in Sri Lanka Savings Bank to train individuals in the saving habit and bank activities.

"No individual will be moved out from Colombo without his or her consent. If there is anyone who is willing to live elsewhere we will provide them with houses in an area of their choice," he added.