– expected to alleviate severe housing shortage in the mining community
RESIDENTS of Mahdia,  Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) are closer to getting developed house lots for home-building as  infrastructural works on a new housing scheme area  advance.

The area east of Mahdia will comprise 136 house lots and works currently being done include clearing of bushes, laying out of house lots, and the installation of pipelines and streets.

Regional Chairman Mr. Senor Bell said that work on the housing  scheme has been ongoing for the past three months but had been slowed down by the inclement  weather.

A recent break in the rainy weather has led to a resumption of the work and steady progress is being made towards handing  over of the plots to the beneficiaries.

Bell said that his administration was looking forward to the completion of the development project since there is currently a severe housing shortage in the mining community.

“Mahdia is expanding. More and more people are moving in and there is a great need for housing accommodation,” he said.

The housing situation had been further worsened by the devastating fire in July 2010 which had destroyed several buildings in Central Mahdia and left dozens of people homeless.

The fire victims were  among others who benefited from a ‘One Stop Shop’ exercise conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Water  in December last year in which they received house lots in the new housing area by  way of a lottery.

Those who accepted the house lots made  down payments on the land, as required by the ministry , and were given an additional six months to complete payment.

Persons who had applied for land prior to the fire last year were also given an opportunity to register and make payments.

On that occasion,  many of the  beneficiaries had  expressed gratitude for the speed with which the distribution process was  moving and the affordable cost of the plots being offered  them, along with the minimal fee for the transport.

Some others, however, expressed their reservations about the availability of water at the designated housing area which is some distance away from Central Mahdia.

Housing and Water Minister Mr. Irfaan Ali had, however, assured them that steps  are being taken to have the area fully developed as a housing scheme and which would include  all  the necessary amenities.