Hyderabad: Dignity Housing scheme of BRS comes to the rescue of Congress

The BRS government had planned to construct one lakh 2 BHK houses at 111 locations across Greater Hyderabad limits.

Hyderabad: After accusing the BRS government of failing to construct 2 BHK houses for the poor and delaying the possession of units ready for occupation in different areas, the Congress government is now relying on these same 2BHK houses for rehabilitating River Musi oustees.

There is mounting criticism and demand for proper rehabilitation for the oustees under the Musi Riverfront Development project. Though the Detailed Project Report is yet to be prepared, the government is already imposing markings on the houses in different areas along the riverbed area.

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In a few places, houses have been demolished as well. This move evoked sharp criticism and objections from all sections. Worried over the mounting pressure, the government announced that the poor affected under the project would be provided 2BHK houses.

Interestingly, though the Indiramma housing scheme was launched, there have been no houses constructed so far by the Congress government, with the government now handing over houses constructed by the BRS government.

Many families from Shankarnagar Basthi and other places have been shifted to 2BHK houses in different areas, including those in Chanchalguda and Ziaguda. The government has also assured to allot 15,000 houses for the oustees.

The Telangana Digital Media Wing has already posted videos of oustees shifted to the 2BHK houses on social media platforms. In the videos, beneficiaries are seen appreciating the facilities provided at the community housing projects.

“Since the 2BHK houses are ready for occupation, many residents agreed to relocate, failing which it would have been a challenging task to convince them,” a Revenue official said.

Interestingly, before the Assembly elections and even after coming to power, the Congress had accused the BRS government of failing to construct 2BHK houses for the poor. Launching the Indiramma Housing programme at Bhadrachalam in March this year, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had charged that the BRS government had promised double bedroom houses for the poor but failed in delivering them.

The BRS government had planned to construct one lakh 2 BHK houses at 111 locations across Greater Hyderabad limits. Among these at 27 locations, houses were constructed in situ and handed over to 5,363 beneficiaries. Similarly, 63,478 beneficiaries were allotted houses at 39 locations.

In all, pattas were handed over to 68,841 beneficiaries and many more were in the advanced stage of being handed over. However, as the Assembly elections were announced, the process got delayed.

Delay in possession

Worried over the delay in issue of ownership certificates of their flats, many beneficiaries resolved to form an umbrella organization, the 2BHK Welfare Association. They even staged protests demanding the government to provide amenities and permit them to occupy their houses.

To this effect, representations were also submitted to GHMC Commissioner in March. It is learnt that the municipal administration department is seeking Rs.700 crore from the government for completing the pending works at 2BHK houses sites.