The contracts were signed by the Ministry of Housing and Water, and three construction firms for the building of roads, macro drainage works, and the installation of water mains at the scheme.

Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Shaik Baksh, accompanied by a team of contractors, yesterday made a brief visit to Block X of the housing area where he outlined to residents there aspects of the projects to be executed.

Contractors Seeram Brothers would be building about 25 miles of road in the area which will cost some $368 million. The project is due for completion in one year.

M. Rafudeen Construction Company was awarded a $26 million contract for building internal and macro drainage systems in the area, while the upgrading of the water supply system would be done by Ramchan Contracting Firm that was awarded the contract for $33 million. Pipelines have already been transported to the area for works to commence.

Baksh also said that Dipcon Engineering was awarded a contract to do roads at Block Y of the housing area and the project is due to begin by monthend.

Many house lots owners cannot proceed to build in the area because of the lack of proper roads and drainage in some sections. They encounter difficulties in transporting building materials. There are also instances where foundation could not be laid because of flooding due to heavy rainfall in the area, some of the lot owners explained.

Baksh said he has asked the contractor doing the roads to give priority to the areas where people have begun building.

At the housing area, main water transmission lines are been laid as part of the East Bank Water supply system, and within one month, people already living in the scheme will be able to get water after a linkage is made with the Grove Water Treatment Plant, the Minister explained.

He said that initially, stand pipes will be installed at some strategic points until the distribution systems are set up for residents to get water supply directly to their homes.

Contractor Seeram said the job is his first with the Ministry of Housing. Road construction will begin on the main thoroughfares.

"This a very big project and we are not going to do one road at a time. We are going to block it off and do them by sections, probably three sections at a time," he said.

He said the main stockpile area for the storing of road building materials has already been identified and the necessary machinery and other equipment should be in the area by the end of next week for works to commence.

At the Grove housing development area, there are some 5 000 house lots allocated for low, middle and high-income earners. However, only some 200 of those house lots have been occupied so far.

There are also sections of the land that have being reserved for the building of schools and other social service institutions and recreational facilities.