Urban News

The Hindu  15.09.2010

State working towards slum-free towns: Minister

Staff Reporter

Twenty five municipalities will be covered under the scheme

SANGAREDDY: Minister for Municipal Administration Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said that the United Progress Alliance (UPA) government at the centre has decided to construct houses for slum dwellers in municipalities in the name of Rajiv Awas Yojana. Under this scheme while the Centre would offer 80 per cent subsidy, the State government will bear 18 per cent of the cost while two per cent has to be borne by the beneficiary.

Speaking to newsmen here on Tuesday, Mr. Ramanarayana Reddy, who was here to inaugurate the newly-constructed municipal building at Medak town, said that proposals to the tune of Rs. 4,680 crore were already sent to the Union Government in this regard. Stating that efforts are on to get funds from the Centre, he said that the State stood first in getting funds from the government but in fourth place in utilising them. Twenty five municipalities and towns would be covered under this scheme in the next five years, he added.

The Minister said that the UPA government has decided to make the towns as no-slum areas and an amount of Rs. 1.25 lakh core would be spent for this purpose. Stating that basic amenities like drinking water, drainage and power supply were being taken up in municipalities, he said that while works was taken up in 98 municipalities it was completed in 85 municipalities. In the remaining municipalities the work would be completed by March, 2011. Asked about Telangana issue, Mr. Ramanarayana Reddy said that it is an emotional issue and the Central government had appointed Srikrishna Committee.

“Sonia's decision final”

“We will abide by the decision taken by Sonia Gandhi. Her decision is final,” he said.

Incharge Minister D.K. Aruna, and Minor Irrigation Minister V. Sunitha Laksmha Reddy were also present.

The Hindu  14.09.2010

Government to give subsidy to poor for house construction

Special Correspondent

Getting an asset:State BJP president K.S. Eshwarappa handing over the allotment letter to a beneficiary under a housing scheme at Kumbaragundi in Shimoga on Monday.

SHIMOGA: State BJP president K.S. Eshwarappa, MLA, said that the Government would provide subsidy to the poor for construction of houses.

He was speaking at a function here on Monday after issuing allotment letters to 216 families in Kumbaragundi, enabling them to construct houses on the sites allotted.

He said it had not been possible to issue such letters to eligible families for long, but it was now being taken up under the initiative of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. He noted that the slum clearance board had extended its support to the task.

He asked eligible families to commence construction of houses under various schemes.

Subsidy

Mr. Eshwarappa said the Government would sanction subsidy of Rs. 50,000 for construction of a house, while an equal amount would come as a bank loan to be repaid in 15 years.

He said that eventually the contribution of the beneficiary for the construction would be only Rs. 30,000.

He said that the Government would be requested to arrange for issuing the allotment letters to remaining beneficiaries in the area.

District BJP president R.K. Siddaramanna, MLC, said that families living in the low-lying areas of Kumbaragundi on the banks of Tunga river were exposed to floods every year. He said that they could not take up construction of their own houses in the area owing to some legal problems. He promised that the legal problems had been cleared now and it was possible for the beneficiaries to go ahead and build houses.

President of City Municipal Council K.S. Gangadharappa, vice-president B. Satyaranayana, chairman of Shimoga Urban Development Authority S. Jnanendra and chairman of Taluk Ashraya Samiti Ananth Sastry were present.