The Haryana Housing Board will develop housing colonies in rural areas on the pattern of urban sectors, and it has already identified 284 acres of land in various villages for the same. This was today declared in a meeting presided by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to review the functioning of the housing board. With a view to provide affordable housing facility to both serving and retired state government employees, Hooda directed the housing board to frame a policy. He also instructed the housing board to reduce the equated monthly instalments for those in the below poverty line, so that houses become affordable for the poor. Minimum rate of interest should be charged from the poor in providing housing facilities.