The Andhra Pradesh Government will spend Rs 2,650 crore during 2011-12 for the housing programme ‘Indiramma'. With a view to meeting the targets, the Government will start ‘Indiramma Housing Week' during the year, with ministers, MPs, legislators and other people's representatives supervising the programme in various parts of the State.

In a reviewing meeting held in Hyderabad, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister, N Kiran Kumar Reddy, asked the officials to form a team at mandal or constituency level to constantly monitor the progress of the programme. Indiramma aimed at providing houses to 47 lakh families in the State. The unit cost of a house in village is Rs 45,000 and in urban areas Rs 55,000.

Admitting that there was delay in achieving milestones, the chief minister said abnormal escalation in prices of building material and wages for skilled and unskilled labour were the reasons for the delay. The Government would make an assessment on how this could impact the pace of the programme.

Stating that construction of houses were in different stages, officials said they would need Rs 2,780 crore for 2011-12. The target for the year was to complete construction of 14 lakh from below basement level to roof level.

The chief minister directed officials to complete verification of applications received during the Rachabanda programme and allot houses. The officials had scrutinised 11.55 lakh applications, while the total number of applications stood at 20 lakh.

The chief minister asked officials to develop 4,488 new lay-outs near villages by spending Rs 1,700 crore under the Integrated Infrastructure Development Plan.

Source: May 23, 2011, Business Line

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