HYDERABAD: Taking potshots at the abysmal governance of former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy blamed him for the sorry state of affairs in Chintamadaka, the native village that the BRS chief had adopted amid fanfare.
In a media statement here on Saturday, Srinivas Reddy accused Rao of making grand promises but failing to deliver, rendering many poor families in the village homeless. The minister directed housing department officials to visit Chintamadaka immediately and expedite all pending construction works related to houses for the poor.
Around five years back, Rao had promised to build double-bedroom houses for the poor in Chintamadaka, leading to the demolition of existing homes and huts. On July 22, 2019, the announcement sparked hope among the villagers, who handed over their homes hoping to get better houses. However, the expectations ended in despair, Reddy said.
The minister pointed out that although 1,909 houses were sanctioned and beneficiaries were identified, the contractors agreed to build only 1,215 houses. By December 2023 when the BRS lost power, 1,103 houses were completed in a span of four years. The incomplete and delayed construction has left up to 70 families without homes.
"The poor people of Chintamadaka have been left in a lurch. The houses are gone, the huts are gone, and there’s nothing left for them," Reddy lamented.
The minister said that the situation would be different under the Congress government.
"In Indiramma’s Rajyam, we not only make promises but also fulfill them. Owning a house is a dream for the poor, and it’s our duty to make that dream come true. We are committed to ensuring that every poor person in the state has his own house," he stated.
"Our government stands for the welfare of the poor. We will not rest until every poor family in Chintamadaka has a home," he vowed.
