Speed Up Works of 5 Lakh Houses Under Navaratnalu-Pedalandariki Illu: CM Jagan

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed the housing department to expedite the construction of houses and constantly monitor the status of basic infrastructure in Jagananna colonies.

The Chief Minister said 7.43 lakh houses in Jagananna colonies were handed over to beneficiaries in October. Works relating to the ongoing 5 lakh houses should be speeded up to provide shelters to the needy people, he said at a review meeting on housing here on Thursday.

He said the official machinery should act in such a way that the problems are identified and solved immediately.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that 7.43 lakh houses in Jagananna colonies were handed over to beneficiaries in October. “Works relating to 5 lakh houses are in full swing and these would be completed by February. Basic facilities like water and power supply have been provided in all the colonies where houses were handed over to the beneficiaries. Steps are on to provide magic soak-pits,” they said.

The Chief Minister said the Navaratnalu-Pedalandariki Illu is the flagship programme of the government aimed to provide shelters to the needy. Completion and the handing over of 7.43 lakh houses to beneficiaries would help the needy to live in their own houses. “Speed up the construction of 5 lakh houses. Audit should be done on the houses for which construction has been completed in all respects to know the status of the basic infrastructure like power supply, drinking water and soak-pits,” the CM told them.

He asked them to focus on the management of Tidco housing complexes and ensure that the beneficiaries’ associations are running these efficiently. The handed-over properties should not lose their quality and the surrounding ambience must be hygienic.

The officials explained that a loan of Rs 35,000 each was provided to 12,72,143 beneficiaries, amounting to a total of Rs 4,483 crore on 25 paise interest for construction of the houses. “Be ready to pay the balance of interest on the loans provided so far,” the CM told them.

Housing minister Jogi Ramesh, APSHCL chairman D. Dorababu, chief secretary Dr K.S. Jawahar Reddy, special CS Ajay Jain (housing), Y. Srilakshmi (MA&UD), housing special secretary Deewan Maidin, APTIDCO MD Ch. Sridhar, mines and geology director V.G. Venkata Reddy and others were present.