INFRASTRUCTURE work on more than 240 housing units in a neighbourhood in East Hidd Town has been completed, it was revealed yesterday.
Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer said the first phase of the BD30 million project, funded by the Gulf Development Programme, was 100 per cent completed.
The 241 homes are being built in Al Qulaia’a neighbourhood.
“The ministry is currently preparing to complete the necessary procedures to hand over the contracts of the units to the beneficiaries according to a schedule that will be announced in the following weeks,” said Mr Al Hamer in a statement yesterday.
“Al Qulaia’a neighbourhood consists of 740 housing units and the first phase of the project, consisting of 241 units, has been completed while 499 units
are in the final stages of completion.
“The completion of the first phase of Al Qulaia’a as well as the completion and residency of Bu Shaheen neighbourhood and allocating land plots in Um Al Shajjar neighbourhood all reflect the accelerated pace of work witnessed in East Hidd Town.”
The minister noted that efforts have been stepped up to implement the remaining stages of East Hidd Town in line with directives issued by His Majesty King Hamad to construct 40,000 housing units.
The town consists of 4,036 housing units and 496 land plots and upon completion will house a population of around 28,000 people.
It consists of schools at different educational levels, worship houses, health centres and clinics as well as other facilities.
It also has 58,000sqm allocated for gardens, 300,000sqm for green spaces, as well as 35,000sqm waterfront and parks and a special 4km path designed for pedestrians and bicycles.
Meanwhile, ministry under-secretary Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa revealed that from 2015 to 2019 the ministry has postponed the monthly instalments for 157 beneficiaries.
“The ministry has taken the decision to postpone and reduce the monthly instalments for 157 citizens benefiting from housing services during the period between 2015 and 2019 through the cases that were presented to the Housing Committee,” he said.
“The committee receives cases requesting a reduction or a postponement in the monthly instalments from citizens with urgent and humanitarian situations through the complaints office at the Consumer Service Centre.”
He said four requests for a reduction in monthly instalments were approved in 2015 while 28 cases requesting postponement were reviewed and approved in 2016 followed by 41 cases in 2017, 50 cases in 2018 and 34 cases in 2019.
“The decisions to postpone or reduce monthly instalments for beneficiaries come within the social role played by the ministry to reduce the financial burdens on citizens with difficult situations who are undergoing urgent financial or social challenges,” he added.
Instalments
According to Article 78 of Ministerial Decision 909 of 2015, the Housing Minister may postpone the monthly instalments or reduce them for a period not exceeding two years or after the disappearance of the reason dictating reduction or postponement upon the recommendation of the Housing Committee.
Reasons include the loss of a job, emergency expenses due to a sudden illness of the beneficiary or a member of his family, natural disasters such as flooding and fires as well as bankruptcy or any unforeseen circumstances deemed by the minister as significant enough to warrant a reduction or postponement in monthly instalments.
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