Thiruvananthapuram: The apartment complex built under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) at Karimadom will be handed over to beneficiaries this month. “It will be handed over to 72 families on August 23,” Mayor V K Prasanth said. Water and electricity lines have been laid, but the connection needs to be given. The Mayor will hold a meeting with concerned officials to complete the formalities.
According to Corporation officials, the beneficiaries will have to bear the connection charges. Other than this, minor works remain. The new complex had become most necessary as the building which stood in its place was built three decades ago and was falling apart. The project, which started in August 2015, was completed at a fast pace. '6.3 crores was spent on it.
Hindustan Lifecare Limited executed the project. There are six blocks with 12 apartments in each block. Every apartment has a kitchen, a bedroom and a toilet. The three-storey building has no ramp. During the course of the construction, the people were given a house rent of '2000 so that they could live outside.
Recently, there was an altercation as a person with a disability was allotted an apartment on the top floor. All beneficiaries had been allotted the same space they used to have. The one with the disability, it is learnt, has been assured of being given an apartment on the ground floor. However, the buildings are not equipped yet for the aging population.
But BSUP project still lags behind
Sheikh Pareeth, a 72-year-old, has been living with his wife in a one-room shack at Karimadom for three and a half years. His home, without a lavatory, is actually one of the better temporary shelters provided to the beneficiaries in the third phase of the BSUP (Basic Services for Urban Poor) housing project. At least, this one has space for a little shop selling candies and such simple joys.
Moreover it is just two people living here. Quite a luxury, when compared to the community hall, which has been converted into many one-room homes. 45-year-old Nadeera’s nine-member-family lives in one of these homes. Other homes are equally crowded. Right outside the hall there are four toilets and four bathrooms, half for men and half for women. “It is difficult to use toilets at night,” says Nadira.
When asked why the project was dragging on, Corporation officials said that some people were not willing to shift. The unwilling parties were just seven in number, but so scattered that it became impossible to find sites to build apartments. Deccan Chronicle spoke to one of the ‘unwilling’ families.
The person said that they had bought a second house here, paying over Rs 1 lakhs. The family has seven members, and one set can comfortably live here. However, when the Corporation made the beneficiaries’ list, the house owner from whom they bought the house has been offered an apartment. "They should have got two apartments, but instead have got only one". he said. They say they have documents to prove that the second house belongs to them.
The BSUP project was to benefit 560 people. Two years ago, 140 were shifted. However now, many more who started staying here after the start of the project have been demanding their share in the project. Sheikh Pareeth says, “This is a prime location. It is close to the hospital, market, bus stand, railway station. Who would not want to stay here?” The NULM building complex, built in seven months, stands in contrast to the BSUP apartments, still under construction.
