Tuesday 29 April 2008

Samdrup Jongkhar residents wait for the low income housing to be complete


April 28: The construction of low income housing in Samdrup Jongkhar initiated by National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC) was supposed to be completed by June 2007. But as our correspondent Pema Samdrup reports, the constructions are yet to be completed.

The construction of 54 units housing colony initiated by the NHDC is expected to ease the acute housing problem that civil servants have been facing for so many years. But for residents of Samdrup Jongkhar, civil servants who are staying with their friends and relatives, it has been a long wait.

Our reporter Pema Samdrup says the housing colony is not yet ready. Started in 2005, the construction was due for completion in June last year. It is now running out of the 10 month time extension as well. The construction of infrastructure like parking, electrification and water supply are yet to be done.

Druk Choklay Construction Company, a private company is undertaking the construction works. The site engineer P.K Gupta told BBS that the delay in the works has been caused by many factors. He said frequent strikes in the Indian State of Assam hindered transport of construction materials from India. This was pointed out as one of the major hindrance.

Shortage of workers was cited as another hurdle. According to a site engineer with the NHDC, Rinchen, the construction company will have to pay penalty for not being able the complete the constructions on time.

Meanwhile, about 100 applicants have applied for the 54 unit quarters. The Dzongkhag Administration says the allocation will be done on a first come first serve basis.

www.bbs.com.bt

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