Punjab's rural residents to get flats

Chandigarh, March 26 (IANS) People in Punjab's rural areas will now get a city-like feel with the state government deciding to construct flats for village residents.

"The Punjab government is launching a scheme under which one and two bedroom flats would be constructed in rural areas on village common (Shamlat) land," Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said here on Thursday.

"The land for construction of flats would be provided by the rural development and panchayat development department and the construction will be carried out by the housing department," Maluka said.

Villagers were ready to provide land for the scheme, he added.

The minister said rural housing would be an open scheme for the general public.

"There would be no income limit or any such condition for allotment. The scheme is being launched to provide city-like accommodation to villagers. The flats will be provided on subsidised rate and on instalments for a period of 25-30 years," he said.

The scheme was being launched on the demand of the rural public "as they wished to live a city-like life with all modern amenities and other facilities", he added.