AP Govt to release 600 cr to clear housing dues

Amaravati: The state government has decided to clear all dues to the beneficiaries of various housing schemes within three-four days. The government is releasing Rs 269 crore out of the total dues of Rs 600 crore on Tuesday itself.

The state government directed AP Housing Corporation to expedite construction of houses and meet the target of building 19 lakh units by 2019. Minister for housing Kalava Srinivasulu said the government had sanctioned Rs 3,787 crore for housing in 2017-18 and completed 3.15 lakh houses within a year.

“We created a record in the history of Housing Corporation by completing 3.15 lakh houses within a year. The Chief Minister has set target of completing 19 lakh houses by 2019. We have no doubts on meeting the ambitious target,” the minister said.

During a review meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday, the minister also said the government had a target of completing five lakh houses by June fist week and 4.25 lakh houses of the target had already been met.

“As per the directions of the Chief Minister, housewarming ceremony will be conducted for at least 3.5 lakh houses in June first week,” he said. Srinivasulu also suggested to the officials to ensure completion of maximum number of houses before beginning of monsoon.

He also said the corporation had appointed work inspectors to expedite the housing construction. “Each work inspector will supervise the construction of 250 houses. They will also take care of payments to beneficiaries in time,” he said.

The minister said Rs 169 crore payments had been in pending due to errors in integrating Aadhaar numbers with Jan Dhan accounts. The government allowed housing corporation officials to release payments into the accounts of beneficiaries through direct beneficiary transfer (DBT) system.   

He said funds would be allocated under ST,ST Sub plan, Neeru-Pragati and MGNREGS to level the plots of beneficiaries in East Godavari, West Godavari and Guntur districts. The minister also said the government contemplating to build multi-storeyed buildings in villages under housing schemes.

The beneficiaries can lodge a complaint on 1100 if they were asked bribes for sanctioning bills. Housing Corporation chairman Nallari Kishore Kumar Reddy, corporation managing director Kantilal Dande and project directors participated.