The Government has released only K10 million of the K150 million initially allocated, to carry out Nationwide Housing Projects.
Acting Managing Director for National Housing Corporation, John Dege, says NHC has the mammoth task of recouping most of the houses given out through the different giveaway schemes in the early 1980’s.
With consistent government funding, they can deliver better housing solutions through the successful acquisition of two portions of Under Developed Land, on which they hope to provide 40, 000 houses.
The need to provide better housing for public servants comes against the backdrop of delayed moves, by various government departments to pay out entitlements to retired or retrenched public servants.
They want to get all their entitlements before moving out.
This makes it difficult for new public servants to move in, a situation that is currently being experienced in the country.
With the two UDL’s, the National Housing Corporation hopes to build 40, 000 houses between the price range of 1 to 200, 000.
There are already 4000 applicants awaiting approval for the different houses to be built on the blocks.
Mr. Dege said it’s a mammoth task, and with consistent funding from the government, NHC will address the chronic housing shortage in the country.
Through NHC’s Public Private Partnership, customary land has been freed up to develop and, shared between NHC and the landowners.
The PPP Program is currently underway in Kavieng, Madang, Jiwaka and Goroka.
Apart from these, there are other ongoing projects in NCD, Jiwaka, Kavieng, Morobe and East Sepik Province.
Meanwhile, the government has provided K60 million to carry out Civil works for the 40, 000 blocks by June this year.
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