1,004 houses built under PHP in four districts

BY KESHAB CHANDRA MAHARA,Dipayal, Mar. 27: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure in Sudurpaschim Province has constructed 1,004 houses in four districts of the province under the People Housing Programme, PHP. 

The programme was implemented in 2017. The Ministry had built the houses in Doti, Dadeldhura, Achham and Bajura under the Urban Development and Building Office, Doti, at a cost of more than Rs. 114.7 million.  The government had constructed the houses for the homeless Dalit community. 

According to the office, earthquake resistant houses with two rooms, a kitchen and a veranda had been constructed and handed over to the targeted group. The government had provided technical assistance and a grant of Rs. 332,500 for the construction of each house.

Under the programme, 345 houses have been built in Doti, 370 in Dadeldhura, 189 in Bajura and 100 in Achham, informed Indra Bahadur Swar, chief of the office.  

He informed that 95 per cent of the completed houses had been handed over to the target group and the rest are in the process of being handed over. Jagatra Devi Kami of Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality-4 said that after the construction of the house from the government, she was no longer forced to live in other people's houses and animal sheds because she did not have a house.

Similarly, Desh Bahadur Dholi of Bogtan Fudsil Rural Municipality-4 said that risk of earthq uake, flood and landslide had been minimised after they received safe houses. "We were living in an old dilapidated house risking our life.  After receiving a grant from the government, we are now able to live in safe houses." he said The office informed that it was preparing to hand over the remaining houses this year.   

Kamal Gadsila, chairman of Bogtan Fudsil Rural Municipality, said that the People Housing Programme had been effective though the construction work was moving at a snail’s pace.

Informing that 25 houses were constructed in the rural municipality, he said that it would be better for the community if the government continued the programme since there were still many people who did not have their own houses.