Africa-Press – Mauritius. A laying of foundation stone ceremony for a new National Housing Development Company Ltd (NHDC) residential complex, Résidence Camélia, was held, yesterday, at La Valette in Bambous, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism, Mr Louis Steven Obeegadoo.
The Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo; the Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Mr Georges Pierre Lesjongard; Members of Parliament; and other personalities were present at the ceremony.
In his address, DPM Obeegadoo highlighted that Résidence Camélia, to the tune of more than Rs 560 million, will span over some 18.8 arpents and comprises 223 housing units.
He stated that a children’s playground; a pre-primary school; a market place; a vegetable garden; a health track; a mini soccer pitch; a taxi stand; a multipurpose centre; an amphitheatre; and petanque courts, among others, will also be available to the beneficiaries.
The DPM underscored that two companies, Square Deal Multipurpose Cooperative Society and Laxmanbhai Co Ltd, have been allocated the contract for the construction of 108 and 115 housing units respectively.
Each housing unit will be of 60 square metres and will comprise two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and WC, and a terrace, he indicated.
Furthermore, Mr Obeegadoo observed that this project, which was long overdue, is expected to be completed in November 2023, thus providing a decent housing unit to the inhabitants of La Ferme and Eau Bonne.
Despite some delay in the launching of this project, the DPM expressed satisfaction that the foundation stone is being laid at last. He remarked that, since 2019, more than 2,000 housing units have been allocated to beneficiaries adding that by end of 2023, this number will reach some 3,000.
Government, he stated, works closely with Non-Governmental Organisations and other relevant stakeholders so as to ensure that housing units and other amenities are put at the disposal of needy citizens.
For his part, Minister Ganoo commended the beneficiaries of a housing unit at Résidence Camélia for their patience throughout the years. He also stressed that beneficiaries will only pay 33% of the cost of their housing unit, while the rest will be borne by Government.
As for Minister Lesjongard, he observed that the inhabitants of La Ferme and Eau Bonne will be relocated at Résidence Camélia upon completion of the project, so that renovation works can be carried out at La Ferme reservoir.
He pointed out that studies have been carried out regarding the reservoir and recommendations have been made to Government for the refurbishment of the reservoir in a bid to increase its capacity.
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