Ahead of Panchayat polls due in Odisha early next year, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today formally dedicated 10 lakh houses under various rural housing schemes and announced plans to construct 16 lakh similar houses for villages.
Claiming that the state government built 10 lakh pucca houses for the people in two years, Patnaik said the project would provide safe shelter to around 50 lakh people who were staying in kutcha houses in rural areas.
"The government will construct 16 lakh more houses in the next three years. I am sure it will set a new milestone in rural development in the state," the Chief Minister said at a function organised here.
Stating that converting all kutcha houses to pucca houses formed an important part of BJD manifesto for the 2014 elections, Patnaik said 'Cyclone Phailin' in October 2013 had prompted him to launch this project aimed at providing safe and secure houses to the people.
Describing the pucca house project as a unique achievement in the entire country, he said the effort of the state government in this direction would continue.
Recalling that the legendary Biju Patnaik was keen to provide a "decent roof" for all, the chief minister said "I feel proud to dedicate 10 lakh pucca houses in his birth centenary year".
The chief minister held interactions with the beneficiaries and also felicitated officers for successfully completing housing project.
