Punjab to build 100,000 houses for the poor

The vulnerable section for whom houses will be provided include scheduled castes, backward classes, minorities, senior citizens and physically challenged persons

The Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of the Affordable Housing Development Authority, under the chairmanship of the chief minister, to provide "affordable housing for all" in the next two years.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet in a meeting headed by Badal here on Wednesday, an official spokesman said.

The spokesperson said the authority would construct 100,000 dwelling units for the economically weaker sections (EWS), lower income group (LIG) and other vulnerable sections of the society.

"The vulnerable sections of the society would include scheduled castes, backward classes, minorities, senior citizens and physically challenged persons in the state to ensure that no individual was left shelterless," he said.
 

The authority would also comprise deputy chief minister, housing and urban development minister, minister of local government, finance minister, labour and employment minister, rural development minister and the chief secretary as its members while secretary of housing and urban development will be its member secretary.

The Cabinet also approved the establishment of three new forensic science laboratories at Bathinda, Ludhiana and Jalandhar along with the creation of 33 posts of group A, B, C and D categories.

"This would reduce the time taken for testing of NDPS samples and also curtail the pendency of testing NDPS samples and help intensify the ongoing efforts to curb the drug menace ," the spokesman said.

With this decision, there will be now four laboratories in the state, as one of them was already functioning at SAS Nagar (Mohali).