Duran farm project a gross misrepresentation: Tkatchenko

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THE K20 million Duran Farm housing project continues to sit idle as controversy hinders the development of homes which started in 2013.
Minister for Housing and Urbanisation Development Justin Tkatchenko described the project as a “gross misrepresentation” by the then executives of the National Housing Corporation (NHC) and National Housing Estates Ltd (NHEL).
“NHC decided in 2013/2014 to launch a very large housing programme – the Duran Farm Housing Project – involving NHC and NHEL,” he said.
He said Duran Farm and another affordable land and housing programme at Gerehu 3B in 2015 were to provide 40,000 houses.
“Six years later there is absolutely nothing to show for the project other than a great deal of controversy and suspicion on what transpired over the years,” he said.
“Duran Farm has no road, no water, no power, no sewer line, and no proper completed houses.
“Over K20 million spent on the project on activities that did not put to the market one affordable house, and did not give to NHC one social or public housing facility.”
He said Duran Farm was an example of how an agency could cost the State millions, “with near impunity for its executive management”.
It led to NHC starting up a civil works company between 2014 and 2016.
“Six years later, the machines lie idle and depreciating in value with NHC paying a team of construction equipment drivers, labourers and security for doing nothing.”