Ruling out allotment of residential sites to ‘siteless’ people in urban areas under government housing schemes in the wake of Union Government’s policy decision in 2011, Housing Minister M. Krishnappa said here on Monday that instead apartment blocks would be built for them.
He was responding to the various demands in the memorandum submitted to him by the State convenor of ‘Karnataka Rajya Niveshana Rahitara Horata Samiti’ Nagaraj Gurikar and advisor Ramanjanappa Aldalli at the State-level convention of people without residential sites in Hubballi on Monday.
Responding to the main demand of allotment of sites to the poor and middle-class people, Mr. Krishnappa mentioned about the policy change and said that multi-storey residential blocks, measuring about 120 sq. mt, would be built for them.
The Minister also assured of filling the lacunae in the Karnataka Housing Policy-2016 and making it more scientific. On appointment of more experts for the evaluation committee proposed under the housing policy, Mr. Krishnappa promised to make the necessary changes and also appoint at least three representatives in the district committees.
He also clarified that government house allotments were being made in the names of women in all cases, barring widowers and physically challenged.
Minister for Mining and Geology and District-in-charge Vinay Kulkarni assured to take up the issue of availability of government land in Dharwad and convene a meeting within ten days. MLA Srinivas Mane too assured of taking up the issue.
Earlier, social activist P. Mallesh lambasted the elected representatives and called on the women participating in the convention to take the lead and stake claim for government lands. State Committee member of SUCI-C K. Uma, Chairman of Dharwad KMF Neelkanth Asuti also spoke.
Delivering keynote address Mr. Aldalli briefed about the agitation so far and the major demands. Convenor Nagaraj Gurikar announced that the Samiti would wait till May and if their demands were not met, then they would launch an agitation.
