State government undertakes up special drive for ‘Nijo Griha’ scheme

A special drive has been taken by the Municipal Affairs department to expedite the construction of houses for the people from economically-weaker section in urban areas under the project ‘Nijo Griha’ scheme.

At the same time, an initiative has been taken to incorporate earthquake resistant measures during the planning and designing of the residential structures.

The state government aims to complete construction of 70,000 residential units in the next few years.

The people who will be benefitted with the implementation of the project have been selected based on a survey. Subsequently, the work to prepare the Annual Implementation Plan and Detailed Project Report has started, with the assistance provided by the Municipal Engineering Directorate of the state government.

The urban local bodies will get guidance from the Municipal Engineering Directorate for better implementation of the project and the project will be monitored by the State Urban Development Agency. The work will start in full swing after the Puja.

In the first phase, 70 local bodies received Rs 472 crore to construct houses for the urban poor, while in the second phase allocation for the project in 38 urban local bodies is Rs 31 crore. More funds will be sanctioned after proper utilisation of the money allocated for the second phase.

Each house under the scheme will have a floor area of 25.77 sq m and it will be comprised of one bedroom, one multi-purpose room, one water closet with bathroom and kitchen.

It has been learnt that the cost of construction of each house is Rs 3.68 lakh. There would also be option for “enhancement of the existing concrete residential houses if it is considered under the programme”.

The steps taken to expedite the task for better and timely completion of the project will help the beneficiaries to get their houses ready as early as possible.

This comes at the time when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had directed each and every department of her government to ensure timely completion of each and every project of theirs.

Most importantly, the step would help beneficiaries get construction of their concrete houses completed as early as possible.