Mehr Project Infrastructure Poor

The controversial housing project known as Maskan-e Mehr or Mehr Housing Program suffers from poor urban infrastructure, utilities and services, according to the deputy minister of roads and urban development.
"Selling houses to people without providing them with basic facilities such as power or running water is irrational," Seyed Mohammad Pejman, who is also the head of the National Land and Housing Organization, told Tasnim news agency this week. "Apparently, those who have bought the units have now become responsible for providing utilities and services themselves," he noted. 
In 2007, former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offered free land and cheap credit to contractors in a bid to provide two million low-income Iranians with housing units. But the national project slowed down due to lack of finances. The new administration officials are now blaming the project of having added too much liquidity to the market and having pushed inflation as high as 40 percent last summer.
Pejman said the Rouhani administration has its own restrictions in providing facilities for the housing units so far constructed. "Yet, the administration has already allocated 10 trillion rials ($376 million) to provide power and water for the units." 
Earlier in the week, Akbar Torkan, head of Iran Construction Engineering Organization and a top presidential aide, disclaimed technical responsibility for the giant project, saying that the constructions are marred by "poor quality" in many cases. "Many of the Mehr housing units have failed to comply with the construction standards and regulations; and therefore, should be demolished."  
Caption: 
 Selling houses to people without providing them with basic facilities is irrational.