Sonia Gandhi lays foundation stone for Rajiv Ratna Awas Yojna

Congress party president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today announced that the Centre would give a package of Rs 1,500-crore for providing housing facilities to the poorer sections in Delhi.

New Delhi, Sept 15 : Congress party president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today announced that the Centre would give a package of Rs 1,500-crore for providing housing facilities to the poorer sections in Delhi.

"Delhi is one of the fastest growing metropolises of the world and everyday there are droves of people coming to the city looking for work. Thus, there is an urgent need for low-cost affordable houses for the poor," Sonia said after laying the foundation stone of the 'Rajiv Ratna Awas Yojna' housing scheme here.

Under the scheme, 50,000 four-storey houses will be constructed in the first phase, which will be allotted to people living below poverty line.

She said that the Rs-1,500-crore package would be given in addition to Rs 265 crore, which the Centre has already given to the Capital to give houses to the poor.

She said that the Delhi Government has set a target of making Delhi slum-free before the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Lauding the Delhi Government's work, she said: "From flyovers to the metro, the city has got everything under the Congress Government."

However, she admitted that water and power remain major problems.

ANI