BENGALURU:
The Minister of Housing and Minorities Welfare, Zameer Ahmed Khan, has made an important announcement regarding the completion of 52,189 houses for underprivileged individuals. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed the submission of a proposal to secure the necessary funds for this project. These houses will be distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana by the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation.
During a review meeting at the House Office in Krishna, the CM was informed that the beneficiaries have not paid their contribution of Rs 2013 crore towards the construction of these houses. As a result, the department requires an additional Rs 2168 crore. In response, the CM has requested the submission of a proposal to the Cabinet outlining the funds needed to complete the project in a phased manner.
Since 2013, the beneficiaries were expected to contribute Rs 2013 crore towards the construction of these houses. However, only Rs 134 crore has been paid thus far. Many of the beneficiaries are impoverished and unable to afford the full amount of Rs 4 lakh each. They are also unable to secure loans from banks. To address this issue, the Karnataka Slums Development Board has proposed that each beneficiary pays Rs one lakh, with the remaining amount covered by the government. This approach would ensure the completion of the housing project.
The CM has been informed of this proposal and has requested its inclusion in the upcoming Cabinet meeting. It has also been suggested that an allocation of Rs 100 crore would enable the provision of 5,000 homes by February. By allocating Rs 1879 crore, the total amount required for the beneficiaries, totaling Rs 2168 crore, would be covered. This allocation would guarantee the completion of all homes by December of the following year.
Furthermore, the cabinet has reached an agreement to immediately release Rs. 500 crore for the completion of 182,000 homes under the Slums Development Board. Additionally, the Department has allocated Rs. 60 crore out of the proposed Rs. 100 crore for the development of minority colonies, while the remaining Rs. 40 crore will be utilized for various purposes through the Finance Department.
Prominent figures in attendance at this significant event included Naseer Ahmad and Govind Raju, political secretaries to the Chief Minister, as well as LK Ateeq, additional Chief Secretary, IAS officer PC Jaffar, Navin Raj Singh, secretary of the housing department, and officials from both departments.
Moreover, the cabinet has been discussing the possibility of the government directly funding the beneficiaries for the construction of 182,000 homes under the Slums Development Board. Similarly, for the pending 52,000 homes, the government has decided to directly pay the outstanding amount to the beneficiaries, who will only need to contribute Rs. 1 lakh.
Overall, these decisions demonstrate the government’s unwavering commitment to addressing housing needs and promoting development in minority colonies. By providing direct funding and resolving pending payments, the government aims to expedite the completion of these homes and significantly improve the living conditions of the beneficiaries.
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