Comprehensive housing policy in the offing

By Our Staff Correspondent

GULBARGA, SEPT. 3. The Housing Minister, Mr. Qamar-ul-Islam, on Monday said that a comprehensive housing policy, covering all sections of society, aimed at fulfilling the housing requirements of the houseless, and to improve resource mobilisation, would be announced shortly.

Disclosing this to presspersons here, Mr. Islam said Karnataka would be the first State in the country to have a housing policy to fulfil the dwelling requirements, both in the urban and rural areas.

Mr. Islam, who declined to reveal the highlights of the new policy, said it would give an impetus to resource mobilisation and help in achieving the stipulated growth rate. The policy would propose simplification of rules, regulations and procedures for registration and allotment of houses constructed under the various schemes.

The Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, was likely to be briefed about the highlights of the policy on Wednesday. The Chief Minister would be presented with video clips of the salient points of the policy. After getting the approval of the Chief Minister, a detailed paper on the policy would be placed before the Cabinet for its approval.

The minister said the concurrence of other departments was required for the approval of the policy. After getting the approval from the Chief Minister, other ministries would be approached for consent for the policy which would be a trendsetter in the country.

He hinted that the policy would help frame new rules for the housing requirements of the people in the urban and rural areas. It would deal separately with the housing requirements of the people living below the poverty line and the economically weaker sections.

The Housing Ministry had cleared a proposal for constructing townships in the universities and the details of the number of houses required and financial assistance for the project were being worked out.

To a query, Mr. Islam said that AICC President, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, was being invited to inaugurate a model Ashraya Colony named after her on the outskirts of Gulbarga city. A formal invitation would be extended to Ms. Gandhi during her proposed visit to Bijapur District to inaugurate the Indi Sugar Factory this month.

He said that the Sonia Gandhi Ashraya Housing Colony, having 460 houses with all basic amenities, was likely to be inaugurated by Ms. Gandhi in October. The work on the houses had been completed and the work of laying the main and internal roads was in progress. The entire colony was provided with solar- powered street lights, fool-proof drainage system and piped drinking water supply.

Mr. Islam said another project to provide 2,400 houses to economically weaker sections and people living below the poverty line had been taken up in Hubli and Gulbarga cities. The project had been named after the Chief Minister. The S. M. Krishna Colony in Gulbarga would be located in the Filter Bed area, and already 100 acres of land had been acquired for constructing the houses. A further 20 acres would be acquired soon for the colony.

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