Telangana: Indiramma housing beneficiaries apply for cancellation

They feel building a house in 66 yards not sufficient; skyrocketing construction material prices also add to their woes

Sangareddy: Several restrictions and rising prices of construction material are apparently discouraging the poor from opting for the Indiramma housing scheme. Reflecting the mindset of beneficiaries, who were already selected, a woman submitted an application seeking cancellation of the house granted to her at Gangaipally in Shivvampet mandal, Medak district.

The woman, Chinnadasari Pochamma, submitted the application to the local panchayat officer addressing the Shivvampet MPDO. Since building a house in a minimum of 60 yards and maximum of 66 yards (600 sft) as prescribed by the State government would not be sufficient for her family, she decided to cancel the house already granted by the government, she said. Despite having 200 yards of land in Gangaipally, she would have to build the house in 66 yards if she accepted the Indiramma house, she added.

Panchayat secretaries across the erstwhile Medak district are receiving similar queries from the selected beneficiaries since building the house in 66 yards would not be sufficient for most of these families. The government’s conditions are said to be restricting many from going for the Indiramma houses.

The government’s decision to grant the Rs 5 lakh in four phases is also said to be discouraging many in going for Indiramma houses since they would need to spend money from their pocket initially. At a time when the prices of construction materials were skyrocketing, the beneficiaries felt that they would find it difficult to raise funds on their own.

Panchayat Secretaries and MPDO officers were flooded with queries on the restrictions of Indiramma houses. Many said they would opt for the scheme if the government removes the restriction of confining houses to 66 yards. On the other hand, while the prices of cement hovering at Rs 340 per bag, sand is being sold at Rs 1,800 per tonne and each brick is being sold at Rs 7. They would need to add the cost of labour as well.

According to officials of the Housing Department, the government has granted 1,308 houses in Sangareddy, 1,339 in Siddipet and 2,658 houses in Medak districts. However, only 153, 132 and 305 houses were grounded so far in these three districts, respectively.