SHILLONG: The State Government has set the balls rolling for implementation of the Meghalaya Affordable Housing Scheme for economically backward families who are yet to be included in the BPL list.
Housing Minister Zenith Sangma informed media persons that the department has floated the Expression of Interest (EOI) and eight different firms have participated in the process.
According to Sangma, the department has formed a committee to assess and analyze the financial capabilities of each of the private firms who have responded to the EOI.
The proposed scheme will be free of all deficiencies ailing the Rural Housing Scheme, which is fraught with loopholes, since it can be easily misused by way of selling the construction materials, Sangma said, adding that the Government would explore new technology for the proposed housing project that allows a house to be built on a single day using steel as the main material without the use of nuts and bolts.
He stated that the department has moved for funds from the Union Government and if all goes well, the project can be taken up within this financial year.
The project was set to be implemented much earlier but it got delayed with the change of officers in the department, Sangma said.
Reacting to a query as how the Government will implement the scheme in Meghalaya where land is hardly available for any project, Sangma said that the houses will be built in the respective land of the beneficiaries.
“We are intending to merge this scheme with the IAY,” he said.
He also stated that the Government would require around Rs.200 crore for constructing 10,000 houses under the scheme in the State.
