Construction of JNNURM houses hangs fire

Short supply of sand and cement in the last couple of months has hit the construction schedule of houses for the poor in 124 colonies in and around the twin cities by the GHMC under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Work is on at least 15,000 houses in colonies in different sites has come to a standstill because of the limited supply or practically no supply of sand or cement, said senior officials.

The municipal corporation had taken up construction of 78,746 houses a few years ago in three different phases, cost wise, along with building necessary civic infrastructure such as internal roads, water lines, sewer connections, power, etc.

Government informed

Engineering-in-Chief R. Dhan Singh stated that the government had been informed about the stalemate and the Andhra Pradesh Housing Corporation and the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation sounded about ensuring supply of cement and sand, respectively.

The suggestion to use ‘robo’ sand by the government has come with a rider.

Apparently, qualitative construction would happen only when the ‘robo’ sand is mixed with 50 per cent normal sand.

Till date, 26,000 houses were handed over to the beneficiaries even as the officials grappled with various issues such as refusal to occupy the houses by some after taking over the keys, complaints of missing doors/windows and problems associated with bank loans.

As far as the bank loan linkages are concerned, a proposal to have a tri-partite agreement between the beneficiary, State Bank and the A.P. Urban Finance & Infrastructure Corporation (APUFIC) is being worked out to ensure that the loans get disbursed liberally.

Under the Mission, 50 per cent is Centre’s grant for the houses, 20 per cent by the State and 30 per cent by the beneficiary including 10 per cent self-contribution.

Houses or flats’ cost range from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.2.67 lakh with beneficiaries’ contribution anywhere between Rs.66,000-Rs.75,000.