Matching to its commitment to provide affordable housing units to urban poor across 34 districts, the Centre has recently cleared Rs. 160-cr to Uttar Pradesh government to construct houses for the needy masses of the state. The State government had proposed to construct 11,286 houses for the urban poor at an investment of Rs. 384-cr and the recent clearance of funds is the central assistance for the mega project. Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries are given central assistance of Rs 1.50 lakh each, for construction of new houses on their land or for improvement of existing housing units. Some of the towns of UP where construction of new houses was sanctioned are Barwar, Iltifatganj, Maholi, Ranipur, Pali, Suriyawan, Chughuli, and Sikandra among others. Three towns where improvement of existing houses was approved included Maghar, Ghuguhuli and Shohratgarh, said official sources.