Fair price shops,primary schools for urban poor

The housing scheme was announced by the state government in 2008 and over 1.01 lakh flats were constructed in the first phase of the scheme (2008-09). In the second phase,the state government is going to develop 91,393 flats in 71 districts at an investment of around Rs 2,500 crore.

It has been decided to construct over 400 to 10,000 flats in various districts depending upon the availability of beneficiaries. Each flat will be of 30 square metre and will include a living room,bedroom,kitchen,bathroom and balcony. “At a place where such a large number of people belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category would reside,services like schools,fair price shops and grocery shops would also be required. Then,the allottees will not need to go far away for education,food and vegetables,” said J N Chamber,Principal Secretary,Housing and Urban Planning Department.

Chamber said development authorities and UPHDB have been asked to develop these services according to their capacity.

“The schools will be opened in only those pockets where no primary school is available at a distance up to 1km from the site of the project,” said a Housing department official.

“The residents of the same localities will be given preference in allotment of public distribution shops and grocery shops,” the official said.

The construction of houses in the second phase of the scheme will be completed by March 2011. The construction of over 27,000 flats has already been begun by the development authorities and UPHDB in around 44 districts. The construction of the remaining 64,000 houses has been put on hold as the state government is yet to finalise the developers who can ensure quality work.