CHANDIGARH: The Housing Board Haryana, a government housing entity active for 55 years, was officially dissolved on Friday after the Haryana Assembly sanctioned its merger into the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP). This occurred amidst symbolic resistance from opposition Congress leaders.
This decision was made during the assembly’s first Budget session, where Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who was also the minister in charge, introduced the merger resolution. Saini explained that the roles of the Housing Board and HSVP were largely similar and assured that the interests of the Housing Board employees would be protected. The government has been working towards this merger for the last two years, with the cabinet already approving it.
Established on May 18, 1971, the Housing Board played a pivotal role in delivering affordable housing to various societal segments, currently boasting over 200,000 residential units across 22 districts. While the inventory of remaining land is still under review, ongoing affordable housing projects persist in Gurugram, Taraori, and Faridabad.
“The merger of the Housing Board into HSVP is shocking. The Board symbolized hope for many residents seeking affordable housing, while HSVP appears profit-driven. I benefited from the Board’s initial housing schemes; the government should reconsider this decision,” remarked Dr. Raghubir Singh Kadia, former Speaker and Congress MLA.
The Haryana Housing Board was established in 1971 through the Haryana Housing Board Act, aimed at implementing housing schemes in the state. Its mission has focused on providing housing options for socially and economically weaker sections, having built a total of 95,969 houses, with 75% allocated for BPL/EWS/LIG categories.
