Curation Team
NAINITAL: In a major step towards providing affordable housing to the public, the district development authority has approved the construction of budget-friendly residential buildings in Nainital, Bhimtal, and Haldwani in Uttarakhand. The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Kumaon commissioner and chairman of the district development authority, Deepak Rawat, on Monday.
Emphasising on strict monitoring to ensure that construction is done as per the approved plans, Rawat said, “While the authority grants approval for reconstruction, residential, and commercial projects, officials must take action against any deviations from the sanctioned blueprints.”
The commissioner pointed out that due to limited housing options in Nainital and Bhimtal — where construction is restricted due to environmental concerns — local workers, including those employed in hotels and commercial establishments, are forced to pay exorbitant rents. To address this, the authority plans to build affordable residential units on govt land in the Beluwakhan area. In Bhimtal, where significant govt land is available, correspondence will be initiated to acquire land for low-cost housing for the general public.
Similarly, in Haldwani, a large population engaged in small businesses, retail, and healthcare services, is also grappling with rising rental costs. Rawat directed municipal officials to identify available govt plots in the Haldwani municipal area for the construction of affordable housing complexes.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the misuse of 60 sq ft building maps in Bhimtal, where the same layout was being used by multiple individuals. The authority disapproved such maps, while approving only those related to areas with existing population but unused agricultural land.
