Indiramma Housing aid insufficient amid rising construction costs, says Rajgopal Reddy

Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy said the Rs 5 lakh assistance under the Indiramma Housing scheme was insufficient as construction costs had risen sharply. He said some beneficiaries were unable to complete houses, while others were pledging gold to meet expenses.

Hyderabad: Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy said the Rs.5 lakh assistance being offered under the Indiramma Housing scheme was insufficient, citing the steep rise in labour and material costs.

He said beneficiaries were spending Rs.3 lakh to Rs.4 lakh towards construction costs. Cement and steel prices had also increased drastically, he said, adding that the total cost of constructing an Indiramma house was working out to Rs.10 lakh to Rs.15 lakh.
During Question Hour in the Assembly on Thursday, the Congress MLA said some beneficiaries were unable to construct houses due to a shortage of funds. Others who had started construction were forced to suspend the works as they could not bear the rising costs. Some beneficiaries were even pledging their gold to meet construction expenses, he said.

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“The government should examine the scope for increasing the unit cost of an Indiramma house,” Rajgopal Reddy urged.
Another Congress MLA, Medipally Sathyam of Choppadandi, said the plinth area of houses eligible for financial assistance under the scheme should be increased from 750 sq ft to at least 1,000 sq ft. He said bills of beneficiaries who had constructed houses exceeding 750 sq ft were not being released.

BJP MLA from Kamareddy K Venkataramana Reddy, however, said an Indiramma house could be constructed with Rs.5 lakh.
Despite repeated appeals to Collectors and RDOs, eligible beneficiaries were not being considered under the scheme, he said. Officials were insisting on approval from Indiramma Committees, he added.