Odisha to launch low-cost houses for poor.

Announcing a plan to launch Shelter Security Mission in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said Rs. 15,000 crore to Rs. 20,000 crore would be spent on the programme to provide low-cost affordable housing for the poor in both rural and urban areas.

'The state government will shortly launch its Shelter Security Mission. Government will spend about Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 crore in the mission,' Patnaik said after inaugurating a two-day conference of District Collectors.

Along with rural housing, Odisha government also proposed to come out with low cost affordable housing for urban poor, particularly those living in slum areas, he said, adding, 'The mission will be directly monitored by me and it will encompass both urban and rural areas.'

Patnaik also said the state government would convert all 'kutcha' houses in the state to 'pucca' houses in five years under the mission and in order to achieve this, it would be necessary to facilitate construction of more than five lakh houses every year.

HBL