Centre offers loan for housing scheme

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 7. The Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Mr. Bandaru Dattatreya, on Monday offered a loan of Rs. 500 crores to the State Government through HUDCO if a housing scheme for lower rung employees particularly for those belonging to Class IV was undertaken.

Addressing a gathering at the handing-over function of 118 HIG II flats to the allottees at Bagh Lingampally, he said the A.P. Housing Board should also develop proper infrastructure. The Centre would not mind extending Rs. 25,000 more for each unit already sanctioned for the development of infrastructure and improved quality, he said.

The Union Minister said that several valuable lands of the Housing Board were under illegal occupation in many places in the State which must be retrieved and commercially exploited. He said the Housing Board must adopt a customer-friendly attitude but not harass them, imposing compound interest in case of delay in handing over the flats to the allottees.

He said the A.P. Government was making significant progress as far the weaker sections housing programmes were concerned and on an average every year, about three to five lakh houses were being sanctioned. The State Government was given Rs. 350 crores through HUDCO Nivas.

Mr. A. Prabhakar Reddy, Minister for Housing, assured people of quality construction and reduced litigation in the housing programme. Mr. K.V. Ramana Chari, Vice-Chairman and Housing Commissioner, A.P. Housing Board, appealed to the allottees to amicably settle disputes with the Board which was willing to undertake out-of-court settlement and help complete the projects in time.

Dr. K. Lakshman, MLA, who presided over the programme, appealed to the Housing Board to undertake housing programme for slum- dwellers. The construction of the 118 flats which were handed over to the allottees today were taken up under the self- financing scheme in 1994 and completed in 1996. Later disputes prolonged the handing-over. The latest policy of the Government to be customer-friendly and the initiative of Mr. Ramana Chari paved the way for settlement of the dispute.

The Housing Board is taking up construction of a commercial complex at Bagh Lingampally and 18 HIG Type II flats and 12 more of a similar type under Grade 6 in the same area.

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Section  : Southern States
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