According to Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora, the Punjab government will build 25,000 houses for people from economically weaker sections (EWS) in phases. In response to a question in the state assembly, the minister stated that nearly 15,000 dwelling units will be built in the first phase of the Punjab EWS Housing Policy. The locations for these units have been identified, and the tendering process will begin soon, according to him. Arora claimed that due to previous governments' negligence, more than 14,000 unauthorised colonies sprouted in the state, and EWS housing was ignored. Now, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government is concerned about providing a roof to the economically weaker sections and notices have been issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department to promoters who have not handed over the possession of the land reserved for EWS housing as per the policy, he said. Arora stated that no flats were allotted to people from the EWS category in housing projects built in the state between 2000 and 2022. However, 520 flats have been reserved for EWS by nine builders. Also, 249 flats have been reserved by eight builders under the jurisdiction of GMADA and 271 flats have been reserved by a builder under the jurisdiction of Jalandhar Development Authority (JDA), he said. Between 2000 and 2022, the housing department issued licences for 615 colonies, and 58 mega projects, including 36 mega housing projects, 19 industrial mega projects, and three super mega housing or industrial projects, have been approved since 2003. In these colonies and projects, a total of 472.68 acres of land has been reserved for people from the EWS category, with the state taking possession of 300 acres. In response to a question during Question Hour, Minister of Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities Baljit Kaur stated that Dr. B R Ambedkar Bhavan will be built in Barnala. Barnala MLAs had demanded that the bhavan be built in their district. See also: Maharashtra budget: 10 lakh units of housing under PM's name MUDA to disperse housing sites in Kunjathbail