In a major step towards fulfilling the housing dreams of urban poor, the state government is moving forward to realize the dream of a home of their own for poor families within the GHMC limits. State Revenue, Housing, and Information & Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Monday laid the foundation stone for the prestigious Indiramma housing towers construction near Malkam Cheruvu in Rayadurgam, under the Serilingampally constituency.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Ponguleti stated that in accordance with the vision of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, the government has initiated the construction of Indiramma housing towers with the objective of providing homes to urban poor as close as possible to the areas where they currently live. He stated that instead of relocating the poor to distant outskirts of the city, the Indiramma towers are being built so they can live with dignity in high-value areas. He added that the government's goal is not merely to complete the poor man's dream of a home with four walls and a roof, but to provide an address where the poor can live with self-respect.
He noted that houses are being built for the poor in areas where land values in Hyderabad are exceptionally high. By providing homes to poor families in areas where an acre is worth hundreds of crores, the government is providing them with security and assurance, he said. The government has decided to provide beneficiaries in Indiramma towers with an undivided share of 17 to 20 square yards along with full ownership rights on the apartment, with sale deeds issued free of registration charges, he added.
The Minister made it clear that there is no scope for any political interference or lobbying in the selection of beneficiaries for Indiramma towers. Beneficiaries are being selected transparently through a lottery system, and selections are based purely on eligibility without yielding to anyone's recommendations or pressures, he stated. The Telangana Housing Board is also implementing a system in the GHMC area where lottery selections are publicly announced and objections are invited, he said.
Currently, construction is being initiated for the first phase of 480 houses in each constituency, with tenders and agreement processes completed in several places, and construction work will soon gain momentum, he said. The government has already sanctioned 4.50 lakh Indiramma houses in rural areas in the first phase, providing financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh per house, and sanctioned another 2.50 lakh houses in the second phase, he added. The Indiramma Towers program has been undertaken to construct one lakh Indiramma houses within the Hyderabad city limits.
"Every eligible poor family that has applied here need not be disappointed. Houses will be constructed in the second, third, fourth, and fifth phases as well. In the next two and a half years, houses will be provided step-by-step to eligible poor in the GHMC area," the Minister assured. He said that construction works of Indiramma towers will be expedited so that beneficiaries can celebrate the Bonalu festival from their new homes by the next Bonalu.
There is no question of compromising on quality in the construction of Indiramma towers, and beneficiaries can witness how their houses are being built right before their eyes, he said. "Visit and inspect the construction works once a week. If you notice any defect in quality, complain to the officials present there. It is the responsibility of the government to resolve that issue," he stated.
"This is not just a gift given by the government, but an asset left for your children and your future generations. Protect this home so that your children can proudly say, 'I also have my own apartment' in a prime area like Rayadurgam," the Minister appealed. Unlike previous practices where houses promised to the poor were built 30-40 kilometers away from the city, the Congress government is building houses for the poor right in the heart of Hyderabad, the Minister said. He added that it is not proper to use the housing program for the poor as a tool for political criticism, noting that people themselves have judged the promises made and works implemented regarding poor people's houses during the previous government's tenure.
