Congress govt to distribute BRS-era double-bedroom houses under Indiramma Indlu scheme

The Congress government will allot BRS-era double-bedroom houses under the Indiramma scheme, starting with a pilot in Mahabubnagar. Beneficiaries will complete unfinished units with State aid, as the government targets one lakh housewarmings in the first phase

Hyderabad: In a significant policy shift, the Congress government in Telangana has decided to distribute double-bedroom houses built during the previous BRS regime under its Indiramma Indlu housing scheme. If all goes as planned, the government is likely to formally roll out a pilot project in Mahabubnagar district from June and allot them to beneficiaries under the L2 category (those without land).

The move comes despite the Congress having repeatedly criticised the earlier BRS government for not prioritising completion of the double-bedroom houses for the poor and then keeping the fully or partially completed houses which were unused for over two-and-a-half years by subsuming them. Now, the same housing stock is set to be handed over to beneficiaries, raising questions over why these units were left vacant for such a long period.

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According to officials, over 50,000 houses were completed in urban areas across the State. Another 35,200 houses are in different stages of construction. In Mahabubnagar district alone, both completed and partially completed houses account for nearly 8,500 units.

Sources said the officials were directed to give them a fresh coat of white paint, decorated with three colours of the ruling party’s flag. The government has set a target to complete housewarming ceremonies for one lakh houses in first phase by early June, even as it pushes forward with the second phase of the housing scheme.

Under the new plan, houses will be handed over irrespective of their construction stage including basement, slab or finishing. Beneficiaries will be tasked with completing the remaining work, with financial support from the government. Contracts with earlier contractors are being cancelled, and beneficiary committees will oversee the completion of pending works.

The government has already announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh per beneficiary under the Indiramma scheme, which will be released in four phases. The financial assistance will be released to beneficiaries in accordance with the condition of the allotted houses in different stages.

Meanwhile, Revenue and Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Thursday held a review meeting with the officials and directed them to complete identification of beneficiaries and allotment of double-bedroom houses by May end. He asked them to complete the houses which are in the final stages, while allotting partially completed houses to beneficiaries. He instructed the officials to provide basic infrastructure like power, water and drainage to the double-bedroom housing colonies immediately.