Date:19/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/19/stories/2005051909850400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Housing scheme pilot project launched

Staff Reporter

6.6 lakh units planned in next four years, says Ponnala 6.6 lakh units planned in next four years, says Ponnala Lakshmaiah

Raising hopes: An old woman looks at the dream project of the Government even as the Minister for Major Irrigation, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, and the Minister for Geology and Mines, Sabita Indra Reddy, launch the Rajiv Gruha Kalpa scheme at Mailardevra P alli in Rajednranagar municipality near Hyderabad on Wednesday. Photo: Satish H.

HYDERABAD: A pilot project under the ambitious Rajiv Gruhakalpa scheme of the State Government for poorer sections was launched at Mailardevpalli village near Rajendranagar in Ranga Reddy district on Wednesday.

The Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, and Mines and Geology Minister, P. Sabita Indra Reddy, were among a host of personalities who participated in the "bhoomi pooja."

Mr. Lakshamaih told a public meeting later that the Government was committed to constructing 6.60 lakh houses, throwing open employment opportunities to 33 lakh wage earners, in the next four years. He said the financial institutions were feeling secure in the Congress regime that their money could be recovered from the loanees. The recovery was good because the liquidity rate was high and the interest rates low.

The Minister promised that the construction of houses at Mailardevpalli would be completed in six months.

50,000 houses sanctioned

Ms. Sabita Indra Reddy said the Government had sanctioned 50,000 houses each to Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy. All of them would be constructed in Ranga Reddy district alone as there was no land available in Hyderabad. One thousand flats would be come up at Mailardepalli.

The Ranga Reddy Collector, L. Premchandra Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh Housing Board Chairman, Poosa Swamy, and the Vice-Chairman, S. N. Mohanty, Housing Secretary, N. Ramesh Kumar, and Rajiv Gruhakalpa Executive Director, Shalini Misra, were present.

No State subsidy

The Rajiv Gruhakalpa scheme envisages construction of housing units in the urban areas but there is no Government subsidy in it like in VAMBAY.

Apart from one lakh houses in city and Ranga Reddy, the scheme contemplates construction of another one lakh houses in the rest of the municipalities of the State.

The unit cost of the houses is Rs. 75,000 with the beneficiary contributing Rs. 7,500 and the rest loan. The monthly repayment of the 20-year loan is Rs. 565.