Africa-Press – Mauritius. An official ceremony was organised, this afternoon, for a symbolic handing over of keys to some 15 beneficiaries of housing units of the National Housing Development Company Ltd (NHDC) at Résidence Glaïeuls in Mare Tabac.
Résidence Glaïeuls comprises, among others, 300 housing units, two children’s playgrounds, a jogging track, an outdoor gym, two pétanque courts, a commercial space, and a community centre.
The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism, Mr Louis Steven Obeegadoo; the Minister of National Infrastructure and Community Development, Mr Mahendranuth Sharma Hurreeram; the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, Mrs K.
Nandini Singla; Members of Parliament; and other personalities were present at the ceremony. In his address, DPM Obeegadoo highlighted that another 300 families are now becoming owners of a social housing unit.
He expressed gratitude to the Indian Government, which he said, stands by Mauritius to meet the challenges of development and accompanies us on the path of social and economic progress.
The DPM recalled that in 2017, the Indian and Mauritian Governments signed an agreement for India to support Mauritius in the construction of social housing units.
He spoke of the partnership between the Indian Government and Mauritius for the construction of social housing units in Dagotière and Mare Tabac, for a total cost of USD 45 million.
These projects have been made possible by way of donation of USD 20 million and a line of credit of USD 25 million, he informed. Furthermore, the DPM indicated that each housing unit costs around Rs 1,9 million to build and that Government is providing a subsidy of Rs 1,2 million for each unit.
As such, he observed, the beneficiaries only have to pay some Rs 700,000 to acquire a housing unit, and can reimburse the NHDC over a period of up to 35 years.
DPM Obeegadoo also underscored that the project at Mare Tabac, which spans over 10 arpents, consists of houses of some 62 square metres, and started back in August 2018.
He recalled that, during the past two and a half years, some 2,200 housing units have already been allocated to families in several localities around the island. Some housing units will be ready in Wooton and are expected to be allocated by the end of this year, he added.
With regards to the construction of 12,000 housing units across some 52 sites around Mauritius, he stated that works will start at Coromandel in the coming months.
As for Minister Hurreeram, he underlined that the beneficiaries have been able to make some progress in life by acquiring a housing unit. Government’s priority, he pointed out, remains the wellness of the population and as such, is providing a decent living space to citizens. He also commended the Indian Government for the grant extended to Mauritius for the construction of more than 900 housing units.
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