Indian Govt. kicks off construction of 4,000 houses in hill country

As part of the Government of India’s commitment to construct 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka, officials laid the foundation stone for 4000 houses that will be constructed in the Central and Uva Provinces as the third and final phase of the project. 

The houses in the estates will be constructed through the Estate Workers Housing Cooperative Societies (EWHCS), which in consultation with the beneficiaries will facilitate construction, the Indian High Commission said in a statement on Sunday.

The services of four Implementing Agencies (UN-Habitat, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Habitat for Humanity and National Housing Development Authority) who have been providing necessary technical assistance and support under the second phase involving construction of 45,000 houses in the Northern and Eastern Provinces will be utilised for the project.

“The High Commission of India will release payment of a total of Rs. 950,000 per house in four tranches, linked to the physical progress, directly to the special bank account operated by the EWHCS. The beneficiaries will be selected through a transparent and norm-based process on the basis of clearly defined and objective criteria,” the statement said. 

 The Sri Lankan Government has earmarked an area of seven perches per family for 1134 houses and hence only 1134 houses will be taken up for construction initially. The Indian Government will commence construction of the remaining 2,866 houses as soon as land is made available.

The project will be implemented in close consultation with the Ministry of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development and the Plantation Human Development Trust.

Indian High Commissioner Y. K. Sinha and Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development Minister P. Thigambaram jointly laid the foundation stone for the third phase of the Indian Housing Project at Dunsinane estate.