One Lakh Houses Will Be Handed Over to Beneficiaries by March 31: Telangana Minister

Hyderabad, March 26: Telangana Housing Minister P Srinivas Reddy announced in the Legislative Assembly that the state government is set to deliver over one lakh houses under the Indiramma housing scheme by March 31, with an additional one lakh houses to be completed by June. The announcement came during the Question Hour, where the minister provided detailed updates on the state's ambitious housing program.

Phase-Wise Housing Targets

The minister outlined the progress of housing construction across the state:

First phase: 4.50 lakh houses sanctioned across Telangana
Additional allocation: 12,000 houses sanctioned for the Chenchu community and tribal people under the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) jurisdiction
March 31 target: Approximately 1.12 lakh Indiramma houses expected to be completed, with housewarming ceremonies to be conducted
June target: Another one lakh houses to be completed under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy

Second Phase to Begin in April

Minister Reddy announced that the second phase of Indiramma houses will be sanctioned in April this year, continuing the government's momentum on providing affordable housing to eligible poor families across the state.

Addressing Incomplete Houses from Previous Regime

The minister addressed the issue of houses started during the previous BRS regime that remained incomplete. He stated that funds will be provided to complete these pending houses, though a decision on the matter needs to be taken in the Cabinet.

This move is expected to provide relief to beneficiaries who have been waiting for completion of houses initiated under the previous administration.

Committee Structure for Beneficiary Selection

The minister outlined a structured process for selecting beneficiaries:

Village level: The Sarpanch will serve as the chairperson of the Indiramma Housing Committees
Selection process: Committees will select eligible poor beneficiaries
Review: Proposals will be reviewed by the Collector
Final approval: Allocations will be made after approval from the district in-charge minister

The minister also stated that in the future, the government will consider providing representation to MLAs in these committees, ensuring broader involvement in the selection process.

Urban Housing Initiatives

Within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits, the minister informed that 14 to 15 locations have already been identified for housing construction, with houses to be allotted to the poor in those areas. He also stated that the same model will be implemented in other major towns across the state, ensuring urban poor also benefit from the housing scheme.

Financial Outlay and Opposition Criticism

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka provided details on the financial commitment to the housing scheme. He stated that the government would incur as much as ₹22,500 crore for the construction of 4.50 lakh houses across the state, at the rate of 3,500 houses per constituency.

Addressing opposition criticism, Vikramarka said, "It is not correct for the opposition to claim that funds for the Indiramma Housing Scheme have been reduced in the budget."

He emphasized that the goal of the Congress government is to ensure that every eligible poor person gets a house. For this purpose, meetings were conducted constituency-wise and applications were received transparently, ensuring a fair and inclusive process.

Vision for Universal Housing

The housing scheme reflects the state government's commitment to providing shelter to all eligible poor families. The combination of completing pending houses, launching new phases, and ensuring transparent beneficiary selection processes demonstrates a comprehensive approach to addressing housing needs across both rural and urban areas of Telangana.

Outlook

With the March 31 deadline just days away, the completion of over one lakh houses will mark a significant milestone in the Indiramma housing scheme. The subsequent June target and the April launch of the second phase indicate sustained momentum in the state's housing initiatives.

The structured selection process, with Sarpanchs chairing village-level committees and Collectors reviewing proposals, aims to ensure that the houses reach the intended beneficiaries efficiently and transparently. As the state moves toward its goal of providing a house for every eligible poor person, the coming months will be critical in executing these ambitious plans.