State government would distribute 13,300 free housing units on September 21 in the second phase in the GHMC limits: KTR

Municipal minister K.T. Rama Rao on Friday said that the state government would distribute 13,300 free housing units on September 21 in the second phase in the GHMC limits.

Rama Rao was speaking at a review meeting in Cabinet colleague Talasani Srinivas Yadav's office on the 2BHK distribution programme. In the first phase, 11,700 houses were provided to the poor without any difficulties, he said.

Rama Rao said that no state has a programme to build a pucca house of 560 square feet. The BRS government offers double bedroom houses which are Rs 50 lakh each in the market for free to the poor.

"The overall amount required to construct one lakh double bedroom houses in the city comes to Rs 9,100 crore. Their market value is around Rs 50,000 crore, which means that our government is giving houses worth that much free of cost," Rama Rao said.

No one is involved in the selection process for double bedroom houses. There is no involvement of MLAs and public representatives in the selection of eligible beneficiaries. The government has entrusted the full responsibility to the



concerned authorities, he clarified.

"It will be a transparent computer-based draw with details of all beneficiaries. The selection process is undertaken right before the media. The officials are fully responsible for irregularities in the construction of double bedroom houses. Errant officials will be shunted out. It is the duty of the collectors to ensure an error-free process. If difficulties in the selection of houses are brought to the attention of the public representatives, they should take immediate action," Rama Rao said.

Meanwhile, the minister said that the Grihalakshmi scheme will start soon. Ministers had urged the Chief Minister to make some changes to the programme in Hyderabad, he pointed out.

"We are finalising guidelines on notarial properties in Hyderabad. Till date, up to 20, 000 people have benefited in each Assembly constituency through various programs like double bedroom houses and notary properties. We are also ready to remove encroachments in the Musi catchment area for construction of double bedroom houses," he said.