Complete housing projects within time, on priority: Minister Zameer Ahmed

Bengaluru, June.6: Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed gave instructions to complete all the housing schemes meant for the poor within the time limit.

Reviewing the progress of the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation which comes under the Department of Housing here on Tuesday, he said the delay in housing scheme result in delay in providing shelter to the poor. At any cost delay cannot be tolerated, he added.

Time limit must be fixed for every project and next project must be taken up only after the completion of previous project. New project must be taken up only after arranging sufficient resources. This would ensure timely completion of the project and relief to those seeking a shelter over their head, he said.

PM Awaas Scheme:

The tenure of the PM Awaas scheme ends this month end. Of the 1.41 lakh houses only 37,000 houses have been given approval. Owing to the code of conduct during the assembly elections the allotment has been delayed, he informed. Further he suggested the officials to dash off a letter to the union ministry seeking extension of time. If need be, he would meet the union minister for housing to discuss the issue, he added.

He expressed his displeasure for non-completion Basava Housing Scheme, Ambedkar Awaas Yojan, and Devaraj Urs Urban & Rural Housing Scheme even after lapse of several years. He directed officials to furnish all the projects from the date of the implementation. The housing schemes must be implemented by resolving problems at the local level. What is the use of these schemes if the progress is just 30 percent even after spending crores of rupees, questioned Zameer.

However, when the officials brought to the notice of the minister a delay in the payment of their share of the money by the beneficiaries for the delay in the execution of projects, the minister directed them to hold an emergency meeting with the bank officials for the speedy disbursal of loans to the beneficiaries.

Not happy

Expressing his unhappiness over the slow progress of the Chief Minister’s one lakh housing scheme, the minister said this scheme was started in 2017 and has not been completed. Of the total 1040 acres of land required, only 553 acres had been acquired. Out of the total 50,797 applicants, only 12158 persons have paid the first instalment due to which only 5,000 houses had been completed.

Housing Corporation Managing Director Shivashakar, Housing Department Secretary Ravikumar, and other senior officials were present.

Box

Inquire into the distribution of title deeds in Chikkaballapur

Under the Chief Minister’s Housing scheme, the previous MLA of Chikkaballapur Dr. Sudhakar has illegally distributed 10,500 title deeds with his photo printed on them during the Assembly elections. It is not legal. This was informed earlier but had been distributed by the previous MLA. The title deeds with pictures of the chief minister and the housing minister are valid. The officials must seek a report in this regard and take necessary action in case of any lapse as the poor must not be cheated, Zameer Ahmed said.

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