DRD yet to start construction of free homes in two Sittwe Twsp villages 

By Admin 21 Apr 2023

DMG Newsroom
21 April 2023, Sittwe

The Department of Rural Development (DRD) has yet to implement a plan to build free homes in some Sittwe Township villages for poor people affected by natural disasters and facing financial difficulties.

The housing is to be built in Zawmadat and Myitnar villages in Sittwe Township. A DRD official said villagers affected by natural disasters and the poor will be given priority to live in these homes, which will be provided free of charge to the beneficiaries.

Arakan State’s DRD director U Oo Chit Maung said implementation of the housing project is in limbo.

“Housing construction is planned, but the budget has not yet been allocated,” he said.

Under the original plan, DRD was to initially build 10 homes in Zawmadat Village, each measuring 24 feet in length, 18 feet wide and 9 feet tall, and 20 homes in Myitnar Village, spending a total of K750 million in the fiscal year 2023-2024.

Village administrator U Maung Maung said DRD officials came to Myitnar Village last January and told local residents about the plan to build free homes, so the land has been prepared.

“We expected too much [regarding the housing project]. We are considering buying one and a half acres of land with the use of cash contributed by the villagers. We planned to buy a land plot for the free homes,” he added.

“We have collected a list of the poor in the village who will be allowed to live in these homes to be built by the DRD. We have yet to receive any information about the housing project,” said U Kyaw Sein Maung, a resident of Zawmadat Village.

Hopes have been raised by the plan to build houses for poor rural families, but residents say they are discouraged by the fact that it has not yet been implemented.

“I have been living in a small room next to my parents’ home for a long time because I have not been able to build my own home since I got married. I’d hoped I would live in a free home built by the DRD. I was very upset when what I expected did not happen,” said Ko Maung Kyaw Win, a resident of Myitnar Village.