Implementation of housing project at Nongmynsong
SHILLONG: The Centre is yet to hand over the implementation of the BPL housing project at Nongmynsong to the State government.
Informing this on Thursday, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said over telephone from Delhi, “We have officially written to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty to hand over this housing project to the State Government. We are waiting for the response from the Centre.”
She said that they have made this request after the Delhi-based firm Hindustan Prefab Limited (HPL), which was scheduled to implement it, backed out.
“We have also taken the HPL into confidence before approaching the Centre. The firm also does not have any problem if the project is being handed over to the State Government,” Ampareen said.
Stating that her Government had been in touch with the Centre over the fate of this project, she said, “We had in fact submitted all the relevant documents concerning the projects to the Ministry. The official of both the Ministry and the State have met to discuss this issue”.
She said it was clear that the present BJP Government RM projects.
“I am sure that they are not going to sanction any new projects under the JNNURM. But I am informed that they are still examining to allocate funds to complete the pending projects under the scheme,” the Minister said.
The first 96 dwelling units of a total of 600 proposed units at Nongmynsong, constructed so far, have housed 64 BPL families from Nongmynsong and 32 from Pynthorbah.
The scheme was sanctioned in 2007 at an estimated cost of Rs 30.44 crore for construction of 600 dwelling units in two phases.
Earlier, Urban Affairs Minister informed that a total amount of Rs 13.76 crore has been earmarked for construction of the 300 dwelling units in Phase I while an amount of Rs 16.68 crore would be utilised for the remaining 300 units under Phase II.
She informed that a total amount of Rs 20.91 crore has been utilised so far for construction of the dwelling units, while adding that the beneficiaries would be able to claim ownership of the dwelling unit allotted to them once they fulfill the various formalities including payment of a nominal amount of Rs 32,500.
“We would give them 60 months time to pay the whole amount. The beneficiaries would have to pay Rs 500 every month,” Ampareen informed.
The original deadline for completion of the two phases was August 2009 and January 2010 respectively.