To avoid a repeat of scams that rocked public housing projects in the State in the past, the TRS government seems keen on exercising prudence before implementing the two-bedroom housing project for poor.
The move could, however, see the government facing political brickbats.
Public representatives from Ranga Reddy district, including Transport and District In-Charge Minister P. Mahender Reddy, met revenue officials to discuss the project a few days ago.
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The gathering was informed that 5,600 houses could be built in the first phase in the district as per a government order mandating construction of 400 houses in every constituency, but the numbers could be lower after considering houses from previous projects.
“Mandal representatives submitted reports on the number of houses that are vacant in the previous housing projects. These numbers have to be consolidated for the entire district, following which the actual number of new houses to be constructed will become clear,” a district official informed. In the district, two major housing projects – Indiramma and JNNURM schemes – provided housing for the poor.
After Tuesday’s meeting, officials said that vacancies and evictions will make more houses available and considerably reduce the burden on the State exchequer.
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While the housing project is yet to take off sans guidelines from the State, the district collectorates are being inundated with applications.
The administrations are unable to process such applications as there are no guidelines on beneficiary eligibility, application pro forma and other nuances associated with a public housing project.
Despite that, a section of political activists, irked by the flurry applications and the delay in formalising the scheme, seek to know why the district administrations are letting applicants make submissions.
“Why have the district administrations collected applications if there are no guidelines in place? This would mislead applicants and who in anticipation would make repeated visits to the collectorates to find out the status of their application,” Aam Aadmi Party Telangana spokesperson P.L. Vishweshwar Rao said in a party meeting held recently.
The guidelines for the scheme have not been issued yet, but the districts are flooded with applications that they are unable to process