Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday directed officials concerned to take all possible legal measures to overcome hurdles coming in the way of building houses for the poor in the R5 Zone of the Capital Region Development Area (CRDA).
Chairing a review neeting of Housing department, the Chief Minister expressed displeasure over obstacles being created by certain sections of people, aimed at denying houses to the needy.
"Several people are joining together to deny houses for the poor at every step," Reddy said and instructed officials to expedite construction with a strong resolve, a press release issued by the government said.
The Andhra Pradesh government has amended the CRDA Act to facilitate allotment of house sites to the poor, creating the R5 Zone and bringing various lands under its jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the officials informed Reddy that Court cases are coming in the way of house construction.
At the meeting, the Chief Minister also took stock of AP Township and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TIDCO) houses and instructed officials to make TIDCO colonies self-reliant as they will house hundreds of houses.
Approving a proposal submitted by the officials, Reddy permitted them to build commercial complexes in TIDCO colonies.
The officials also apprised the Chief Minister that over 71,452 TIDCO houses have been handed over to beneficiaries, while 29,496 more houses and another 49,604 more will be given in July and August respectively.
They informed the Chief Minister that bank loans to a tune of Rs 2,000 crore have been arranged for the beneficiaries who opted for 365 sq ft and 430 sq ft TIDCO houses, while 300 sq ft houses are being doled out for free.
Under Jagananna Housing colonies, the officials said that 4.2 lakh houses have been constructed, while 5 lakh more would be ready by August 1.
On housing alone, the southern state has incurred an expenditure of Rs 2,201 crore in the current fiscal, the officials informed the Chief Minister.
Reddy also directed the officials to formulate an action plan to complete constructing houses for the poor in Visakhapatnam before December.
-With PTI Input
