Dimapur, Sep. 15 (EMN): To tackle shortage of accommodation in the housing sector, the chief engineer of NPWD (Housing), I Tiameren, informed that the department has set a target of constructing 1000 dwelling units in all the district headquarters and towns by 2030 to provide affordable housing for the employees.
Tiameren stated this in his brief presentation on ‘Vision document of NPWD Housing on the occasion of 52nd Engineers’ Day celebration on September 15 held in the conference hall of the Engineer-in-Chief, NPWD Complex, in Kohima on the theme “Engineering for change,” stated an update from the department.
He stated that Nagaland has 5377 government residential building of various types from Type-I to VIP Bungalow as per PWD Housing Building inventory 2019 which were mostly constructed during 1960 and 1970s. He informed that some buildings are beyond economical repair and outlived their age.
Mentioning that Nagaland state has around 1,23,182 employees as per Nagaland government payroll as of March 31, 2021, he stated that only a fraction of government employees have benefited in the government accommodation and rest are either residing in their own private house or private rented house paying huge rent fees.
He, therefore, stated that the department has set a target to construct 1000 dwelling units in all the district headquarters and town by 2030. In order to achieve the target, he has suggested reactivating the Nagaland Housing Board with new Nagaland Housing Policy to strengthen with an objective of providing an affordable housing for all economic group of people and uniformity in all the district and towns of Nagaland.
Delivering the keynote address, NPWD Engineer-in-Chief, Kahuli Sema, greeted all the engineers, subordinate staff and officials. She paid respect to the ‘engineer of the engineers,’ and ‘architect of the architects.’
Stating that God has beautifully created heaven and earth, Kahuli said He has assigned mankind to develop the world and thus created engineers.
“God is the engineer of everything,” she stated.
Referring to the theme “Engineering for change," Kahuli stated that each and every engineer has important role and responsibility toward the nation building. She, therefore, urged them to be sincere and have dedication towards their service.
Hozheto Shikhu, president of Association of Engineer NPWD, while highlighting the significance of Engineers Day, stated that September 15 is observed as ‘Engineers’ Day’ to mark the birth anniversary of Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya popularly known as MV, the first Indian civil engineer and statesman, in recognition of his achievement.
Other engineers also spoke on the occasion.