The Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, performed, on Wednesday afternoon at Terracine Road in Souillac, the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of some 200 housing units by the National Social Living Development Ltd (NSLD).
The Deputy-Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism, Mr Louis Steven Obeegadoo; the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy; the Minister of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity, Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo; the Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance, Mr Mahen Kumar Seeruttun; the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal; Members of Parliament; representatives of the NSLD; and other personalities were also present on this occasion.
In a statement, Prime Minister Jugnauth highlighted that Government previously announced that the NSLD would build 12 000 housing units at an affordable price for the needy and less fortunate sections of the community. However, he indicated, the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have hindered this project’s progress and it will now be implemented in two phases.
He emphasised that the first phase of the project will comprise the construction of some 8 000 housing units and the relevant Ministries and Departments have identified several sites across the island. Discussions, he underlined, have also been ongoing with contractors and several sites have already been allocated so as the building works may begin.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister observed that the construction of these housing units will be undertaken in all 20 constituencies in an equitable manner. He also expressed satisfaction about works accomplished so far by the Ministry of Housing and Land Use Planning together with other Departments and stakeholders such as the Central Electricity Board and the Central Water Authority.
Mr Jugnauth, moreover, remarked that, in addition to housing units, the project includes on-site social amenities and makes provision for essential ecological measures, including rainwater harvesting, solar energy panels and appropriate waste disposal systems. Government will remain true to its commitment to the people waiting to benefit from a social housing unit and will spare no effort to ensure the timely completion of the first phase of the project, he added.
