Rajasthan Housing Board might provide 16,000 vacant flats to COVID-19 patients.

To take on coronavirus, several schools, hospitals, and facilities have opened their doors for citizens suffering through the lockdown time to reach both ends. However, the Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB), which has 16,000 vacant properties, is still in progress to give any solace to the suffering people.

State residents also volunteered to cater migrant workers and establish quarantine facilities and isolation ceneters at their private buildings. But the Rajasthan Housing Board has not yet declared any plans to expand its vacant property for the same.

There are over 3,500 vacant flats available in Jaipur according to sources. Such buildings are situated in Pratap Nagar, Indra Gandhi Nagar along with other RHB areas that could be used as relaxation centres to house patients and suspects of COVID-19.

Such buildings are liveable as they provide electricity, water, and sewage services along with a kitchen that helps individuals and families to enjoy their quarantine period. Many of these buildings have remained empty for many years, and are unlikely to be sold at any point because the current lockdown places the housing board’s auction plan on hold.

“Since many of these buildings are in bad shape, it may take a lot of time and resources to make them inhabitable,” an official said regarding the purpose they were not transformed into isolation facilities.

In order to recognize and isolate suspects of corona in the state, Jaipur district collector has ordered officers to create one quarantine centre each at all district headquarters. These centres are to be built in the subdivisions in hostels, colleges, schools or hospital buildings and must provide sufficient food, living and drinking water along with toilet facilities for the suspects being quarantined there. Such centres to be built in the subdivisions of Sanganer, Jaipur and Amber will have a capacity of 2,000 people, while others will have a capacity of 500 people.