Telangana is the only State in the country to provide 2BHK housing scheme: KTR

Telangana is the only State in the country to ensure that the poorer sections live in dignity with the implementation of the 2BHK housing scheme that comes as a complete package with spacious rooms, kitchen, washroom, drinking water taps, among other facilities. “The beauty of the scheme is that it comes absolutely free of cost, with the beneficiaries not required to spend even a single paisa,” Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K T Rama Rao said on Wednesday.

The entire credit for this dignity housing scheme, which has been taken up in a big way across the State, goes to Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao who conceived the idea and implemented it, he said, and assured those who had not been allotted houses so far would get it eventually. “There is no need for people who have not yet been allotted to be dejected since it is only a matter of time before they become the proud owners of a house, probably within a year,” he said, addressing the beneficiaries after inaugurating double bedroom houses in Boppapur, Gollapalli and Yellareddypet mandal headquarters in Rajanna-Sircilla district.

“In return for the largesse, all that the State government asks of you is to plant saplings in every available yard of land in your colonies, protect and raise them to increase greenery around since only such an exercise will ensure higher oxygen content in the atmosphere. All of us have been witness to what lack of oxygen can do during the Covid crisis, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the State goes green,” the Minister said.

This apart, Rajanna-Sircilla district, which was once a drought-prone



area, will be transformed into Konaseema of Telangana once all the components of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme are completed, Rama Rao said.

Pointing out that lakhs of double bedroom houses had been constructed across the State, he said the selection of beneficiaries for allotment was done in a transparent manner without any scope for irregularities. These colonies are virtually on par with gated communities in Hyderabad, and the land rates too have appreciated considerably because of such developmental activities across the State, he said, adding that in some place, land costs matched prevailing rates in upmarket Banjara Hills in Hyderabad.

Admitting that the pandemic did cause some delay in the construction of the 2BHK houses, Rama Rao promised to provide houses to all eligible people. He also pointed out that the houses constructed by successive governments for the poor in undivided Andhra Pradesh were very small that could not accommodate a family. Moreover, the TRS government took up construction of 2BHK houses in prime locations and not in some distant places.

Listing out the various welfare schemes implemented by the State government, Rama Rao said the Aasara pensions virtually covers all sections of society including beedi workers.

Housing Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy, who accompanied Rama Rao, said the State government had taken up construction of Rs 2.67 lakh double bedroom houses in the State and allocated Rs 19,000 crore for the scheme. A total of 1.67 lakh houses have been fully constructed so far at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore, he said.