Works on three lakh houses to begin in July: Andhra Pradesh housing minister

AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh government is gearing up to kick-start works on at least 3 lakh houses in YSR Jagananna colonies in a span of three days in the first week of July.

The district collectors have been directed to ensure launch of works on one lakh houses each day on July 1, 3 and 4. The newly appointed joint collectors (housing) have been asked to gear up the field-level administration to complete the task on a mission mode.

Housing minister Cherukuvada Sri Ranganatha Raju took stock of the plans with the officials on Monday.

Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy recently gave green signal for launching of 15.6 lakh houses under YSR Jagananna housing programme in the first phase.

The state government had granted nearly 30 lakh house sites to the eligible poor across the state and granted pucca houses under Housing For All scheme.

The state government is granting Rs.1.8 lakh to each beneficiary for completion of a single bed room housing unit.

“We are providing steel and cement at reasonably low prices when compared to the market prices besides giving sand free of cost. We are also providing them electrical equipment including tube lights, bulbs, and fans free of cost,” said minister Sri Ranganatha Raju.

He also said that the government is spending close to Rs 35,000 crore to create infrastructure in housing colonies.

He directed the officials to transport the required sand to the housing colonies to avoid additional transport cost on the beneficiaries. He had also asked the key line departments which were involved in development of basic infrastructure to start the works in order to instill confidence among the beneficiaries to start the works on the housing units.

“Commencement of works on laying of roads, electricity poles and drinking water supply pipelines will create confidence among the beneficiaries that the promised infrastructure is going to be created very shortly. Launching infrastructure works is also crucial,” he said.

The housing department roped in the amenities secretaries (engineering assistants) in village and ward secretariats to geo-tag the grounding of houses as per the schedule. The secretaries and field level volunteers have been asked to organize the meetings with the beneficiaries a day before the grounding ceremony.

“Launching of 15.6 lakh housing units in one fiscal is a record in the country. We are working overtime to achieve the target set by chief minister YS Jagan,” said Ajay Jain, special chief secretary (housing).