KHUJAND, January 23, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Khujand municipality intends to allot 100 hectares for housing additionally to 110 hectares originally planned this year.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, a source at the Khujand mayor’s office said, “At first, it was planned to allot 110 hectares for housing in microrayon 3 this year but then on an initiative of the Sughd governor Qohir Rasoulzoda, the city authorities decided to allot additional 100 hectares in the same area for construction of residential buildings for the most needy section of the population.”

“Experience has shown that it is not expedient to just allot land for housing.  It is necessary to prepare a residential landscape design and construct necessary infrastructure (to build road, lay on water supply and install electricity equipment),” the source said.

Speaking to reporters in Khujand on January 20, the Sughd governor noted that the estimated budget for that project is some 7 million somoni.  “We hope to provide these funds from the regional budget and the budget of Khujand during two years,” said Rasoulzoda, “People will receive an area of six hundred square meters each and will be able to begin construction of houses on their own; the houses should be of the same type -- one- or two-storey buildings.”

According to official data, 2,000 people are now on the apartments waiting list.