The dream of dalit families of Thippannapet village in Jagtial mandal of owning a modern house under the Telangana Government’s flagship two bedroom housing scheme for weaker sections appears to have been shattered as a section of villagers is opposing the project in the name of “vaastu”.
The project appeared to have got off smoothly with the district administration allotting 2.27 acres of land in survey number 571 for the construction of double bedroom houses for 20 beneficiaries of the village, including 16 dalit families.
Ground levelling work had also commenced and Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha formally laid the foundation stone for construction of double bedroom houses a fortnight ago.
However, some villagers, who were said to be against the beneficiaries getting prime land adjacent to main road for double bedroom houses, have launched a propaganda that the houses, to be occupied by dalit families, on the said site in the village are not auspicious for development and it would have ill-effects on the villagers because of “vaastu dosha”.
Topping the propaganda were prayers that were being offered on the site from Saturday with the claim that an idol/statue of Lord Ganesha was found in the land and that construction of a temple at the site was more ideally suited to the village for the wellness of its residents. The villagers started breaking coconuts and offered prayers to the idol. When the news spread, police and revenue officials rushed to the spot and stopped construction of a temporary shelter at the venue.
Villagers argue
The villagers argued with the officials stating that they would not allow double bedroom houses and instead take up construction of a temple. Official sources said that the villagers were against the construction of double bedroom houses in the precious land and they were accepting a community hall for all instead of a housing scheme.
Banda Shankar, a dalit leader, said that “it is unfortunate that the villagers are opposing the construction of double bedroom houses for dalits in the village”. Condemning the act, he urged the government to take action against persons obstructing the construction of houses.
