Announcing the decision, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said this is a unique initiative which would provide required facilities to those persons who are on way to become normal as far as their daily lives are concerned.
"The Expenditure Finance Committee has sanctioned Rs 47.63 crore for construction of five halfway stay homes for mentally challenged persons who have substantially recovered and still require due care," Dikshit said.
The construction of such homes is probably the first of its kind in the country, she added.
The sanction for the project came at a meeting of the EFC chaired by Dikshit.
In other decisions, the Committee also sanctioned a project relating to Irrigation and Flood Department for construction of a car parking in Old Seelampur and one in Gandhi Nagar was also considered. The EFC approved its revised cost from Rs 4.07 crore to Rs 5.97 crore.
On the environment front, Dikshit said, the project of rehabilitation of degraded forest land in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary and Dera Mandi Area is challenging.
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"As the area is rocky and spread out, it requires extra labour and attention. The Forest Department has submitted a proposal to extend the project period from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2017.
"It will help in afforestation by plantation of trees and maintenance, rehabilitation of degraded forest land and protection of government land from encroachment and illegal mining. The project is being executed by an Eco Task Force," she said.
Under extended period, the ETF will ensure plantation of 7.5 lakh saplings on 470 hectares at Asola Bhatti, Dera Mandi and Ghitorni.