NHDA housing boon for poor

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) has spent over Rs 2,000 million to solve the housing problem of people in remote areas, said Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

Addressing the Progress Evaluation Meeting of the NHDA District Managers at the Construction Equipment Training Centre recently, Weerawansa said that a large number of families who suffered for a long period without a fixed abode due to the inconvenience of obtaining a bank loan, befitted through this housing project.

"People who live in remote areas are helpless as most banks are frightened to provide loans," the minister said.

He said that the previous government planned to close the NHDA. "Earlier, the NHDA built about 6,000 or 7,000 houses a year. But this year, it has built 24,478 houses. The NHDA plays a key role in the Jana Sevana Housing Programme," Weerawansa said.

"The NHDA can earn Rs 1,218 million through its internal earnings. The NHDA plans to build 33,841 houses in 2012 by spending about Rs 8,000 million," the minister said.

NHDA chairman Jayantha Samaraweera, deputy chairman A W Dayananda, General Manager A L S K Perera and director Padma Udayashantha Gunasekara participated.