By Indrawattie Natram

THE Charity Housing area, once the Charity squatting area in Region Two, is currently undergoing massive infrastructural development.

Due to its vulnerability to flooding, President Dr. Irfaan Ali implemented several multi-million dollar projects in the area.
Vilma De Silva, the Chairperson of Region Two, reported that two community roads have been finished and a bridge is presently being built. On Wednesday, she visited the project and mentioned that the bridge was built by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) to enhance access in the locality.

She said that roads replaced “grass dams” and many persons that were squatting in the area for years could not have access. President Irfaan Ali had listened to residents’ concerns during his visit to the community, and a request was made for better access. A multi-million dollar bridge is currently under construction, and two roads were completed in the area.

According to De Silva, the projects are a testament to President Ali’s commitment to improving the lives of those in the Charity community. She stated that the project has reached about 30 per cent completion and she is pleased with the work’s speed.
The regional administration is constantly monitoring the ongoing projects in the Charity Housing project areas, according to De Silva. She said that the Charity area is rapidly developing with the massive infrastructural developments that are taking place.

Residents who are living around the project said that they are happy that the area is getting attention. They expressed gratitude for the prompt decision and said that it was something the area needed.

“The area had no development because they said it was just a squatting area, however when the President came he listened and we saw that the promise was delivered, the bridge will help us to move building materials to our area and to improve our living condition” one resident said.

Another resident, Indal Budhoo said that he is happy for the immediate intervention. He said that he has been living in the area for 20 years and could not access any loans because it was not regularised. He is thankful to President Irfaan Ali’s intervention that persons in Charity can now breathe a sigh of relief.

In the past, whenever it rained, the residents would experience massive flooding affecting their livelihood.
Accompanying De Silva to the project site was Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit and Prime Minister Representative Arnold Adams.