Telugu Desam corporators on Sunday demanded the government to immediately solve the problems at the houses that were built under the JNNURM scheme, but remained unoccupied due to lack of basic amenities and connectivity with the city.
A team of 12 corporators inspected and assessed the conditions of these houses constructed at Ellambanda, Kukatpally. The cost of each JNNURM house was Rs.1.60 lakh five years ago, which has been revised to Rs.2.80 lakh. About 12,000 people have deposited 30 per cent of the earlier amount and they were being asked to pay additional amount according to revised rates, charged Singireddy Srinivas Reddy, Saidabad corporator and TD floor leader in GHMC Council.
Since these applicants were poor and cannot bear the additional burden, the government should extend loan facilities, he demanded.
“People are also reluctant to occupy these houses due lack of public transport to connect with the rest of the city. To address the issue, RTC buses should be run from these colonies,” he observed.
About 40,000 houses were built in the city under the scheme and GHMC had spent Rs.280 crore to provide basic amenities. But due to the delay in allotment of houses, miscreants had stolen goods like water pipes, electrical wiring, windows, doors and even flooring tiles from these houses. The government should rectify these problems immediately, Mr. Reddy said.
The corporators also demanded an enquiry by the State Vigilance Commission to probe the allotment process. “These issues should be rectified within 15 days failing, which we will launch a dharna near the Secretariat,” Mr. Reddy added.
