The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Physical Planning, and Minister of Tourism, Mr. Louis Steven Obeegadoo, inaugurated a new residential complex of the National Housing Development (NHDC) Co. Ltd, Lotus Residence, in Chebel this afternoon. The ceremony was held in the presence of PPS Dorine Chuckowry and other dignitaries.
Some 99 two-storey houses with an area of 50m2, at a cost of Rs 160 million, were delivered to their owners. Each unit has a living room, two bedrooms, two toilets and bathrooms, a kitchen and an open terrace.
During his speech, Mr. Obeegadoo explained that the implementation of housing projects takes time and involves several necessary steps. These include land acquisition procedures, and the design and construction phases while taking into account the regulations and laws in force as well as compliance with construction standards. He cited the example of the Lotus Residence project, which started in May 2018 and was completed over a three-year period.
According to Mr. Obeegadoo, since November 2019, NHDC has delivered more than 1,050 homes. He said that by June 2022, the construction of 1,400 homes, in the areas of Mare d’Albert, Mare Tabac, Gros Cailloux and Dagotiere, among others, would be completed. He added that the NHDC is currently updating its waiting list for houses to better meet the growing demand and requirements of applicants. He also said that 10% of the total number of houses in the projects are allocated to beneficiaries of the National Empowerment Foundation.
The Deputy Prime Minister also recalled the commitment of the government to build more housing, especially through the 2020/2021 budget measure that provides for the construction of 12,000 residential units. He stressed that the New Social Living Development Ltd (NSLD), which is responsible for the project, is currently finalizing the procedures for land acquisition.
Regarding the situation of Covid-19, the Deputy Prime Minister urged the population to maintain preventive measures such as respecting physical distance, wearing masks and frequent hand washing. He expressed satisfaction with the increasing number of people vaccinated. Six out of 10 adults have already received their first dose of vaccine, while four out of 10 adults have received their second dose, he said.