Southern States - Kerala   

More Hudco-aided schemes this year

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Apr. 11. The Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, today said that numerous development schemes aided by Hudco would be taken up in the financial year 2003-2004.

In his address at the State-level inauguration of the scheme for reduction of existing interest rates of loan and hire purchase schemes of the Kerala State Housing Board, Mr. Antony said while dozens of bridges, roads and shopping complexes would be built, other urban development schemes would also be taken up with financial aid from Hudco.

Following resumption of aid to the State from Hudco, the beneficiaries of the Maithri Housing scheme stand to gain a lot. "The poor families who braved the rains during the previous monsoon will get their money as per the scheme before the coming monsoon,'' Mr. Antony said.

Terming the Minister of State for Defence, O. Rajagopal, who was present for the function, `Kerala's Minister in the Union Cabinet', Mr. Antony said things such as the rejuvenation of the Housing Board and the financial turnaround of the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery would not have been possible but for the personal initiative of Mr. Rajagopal.

In his address, the Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Pon Radhakrishnan said HUDCO would offer continued support to Kerala for housing and other infrastructure schemes. The corporation has supported over 71 infrastructure development schemes in the State so far. Even so, Hudco would stand to lose about Rs. 173 crores as a result of the scheme to lower the interest rates of Housing Board loans, he said. The Minister later gave away the scheme's sanction letters to a couple of beneficiaries.

Speaking at the function, Mr. O. Rajagopal said the present scheme was a very good example of how party politics can and should be set aside for effecting development and to bring succour to the common man. It was only because of an attitude of cooperation between the authorities in the State and at the Centre that such a scheme could be brought about.

As per the initiative of the Prime Minister to provide housing for all by 2010, Hudco has been building 20 lakh homes a year - 13 lakhs in the rural areas and 7 lakhs in the urban areas. About 127 industries are being directly benefited by developments in the housing sector, he added.

The Revenue Minister, K.M. Mani, presided. The CMD of Hudco, P.K. Pradhan, was among those who participated.

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