Africa-Press – Mauritius. The provision of decent dwelling to the most vulnerable is a major project that Government fully supports as it is in line with our vision to place people at the heart of development and enhance their quality of life, stated the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, today, at Pointe Aux Piments.
He was speaking at the laying of foundation stone ceremony for the construction of 200 housing units by the New Social Living Development Ltd (NSLD) and the Ministry of Housing and Land Use Planning.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism, Mr Louis Steven Obeegadoo; the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training, Mr Soodesh Satkam Callichurn; the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah; the Minister of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms, Mr Teeruthraj Hurdoyal, as well as several Parliamentary Private Secretaries and eminent personalities were also present.
The Prime Minister underscored Government’s determination to accelerate its efforts to steer social housing development projects for vulnerable families.
He pointed out that social housing units are being constructed in different regions across the country in a bid to facilitate social integration and promote inclusiveness.
Similar housing projects are ongoing in other regions namely Souillac, La Brasserie, Bel Rivière Sèche, L’espérance Trébuchet, and Pointe aux Sables, he mentioned.
He reiterated Government’s core objective to ensure that each family has a decent house which is secure, durable and in line with the aspirations of the population.
He recalled that Government is currently undertaking the construction of 12,000 housing units for vulnerable families which will be implemented in two phases. The first and second phases, he said, comprise the construction of 8,000 and 4,000 housing units respectively.
It is a priority for every one to have a shelter of their own and it is not easy for modest and vulnerable families to save money, buy a land and construct a house”, he said adding that it requires a lot of efforts and sacrifice.
We as a caring Government, he underpinned, believe that housing is a basic necessity for all. He emphasised that it was important for the Government to come up with the NSLD in 2019 to provide for the construction of new and modern housing units to respond to the expectations of the population.
Government, he stated, has a difficult task of finding land for construction of houses that provide easy access to many facilities and amenities. On this note, he lauded the collaboration of local contractors for the construction of the housing units in this difficult situation where by the prices of construction materials have increased due to inflation caused by external factors.
Prime Minister Jugnauth indicated that the housing project at Pointe aux Piments is being built on a plot of land of around 10 arpents to the tune of Rs 548 million.
It will comprise housing units of 60 metre square with a yard of 56 metre square, a multipurpose hall, a market, a children’s playground, shop, a jogging track, solar street lightings, eco bins, and road infrastructure.
He underlined that 10% of the housing units are reserved for most vulnerable families registered at the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity and eight houses will be provided to persons with disabilities.
The Prime Minister reiterated that Government will redouble its efforts for the construction of more housing units. The NSLD, he underlined, will benefit from a loan from the Saudi Fund for Development for the construction of an additional 1,050 housing units.
For his part, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that the housing project is a modern one in harmony with nature, equipped with modern infrastructure and facilities.
The project, he stated, will benefit the residents of the region adding that similar housing projects are being carried out across the country to ensure that every family from different social ladders have access to a decent housing facility.
DPM Obeegadoo further pointed out that the National Housing Development Co. Ltd has already completed the construction of 2, 500 housing units and is determined to continue with construction of more housing units in line with Government’s vision.
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