Ombathukere Ashraya houses to be demolished: U T Khader
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangaluru, June 16, 2018: Speaking to media here on June 15, Friday, Minister for Urban Development and Housing U T Khader, who has also been appointed as District In-charge Minister of DK, said that the Ashraya houses at Ombathukere in Ullal will be demolished to make way for apartments for poor beneficiaries.
The minister said that the proposal for demolishing the Ashraya houses will be placed before the Legislature Committee for approval.
Over 300 houses constructed for the poor under the Ashraya scheme at Ombathukere in Ullal have remained unoccupied since 2002. The structures are in a dilapidated state. The houses could not be allotted owing to court cases pertaining to them all these years.
New approach : The minister said that the Housing Department is mulling over entering into a tie-up with local cooperative societies to provide short-term loans for beneficiaries of various housing schemes.
“As per the housing scheme rule, a beneficiary will get a first instalment of Rs 35,000 only after the foundation of the house is constructed. The beneficiary, however, finds it difficult to arrange money to take up the work on foundation. As a result, many houses could not be taken up under the scheme even after allotment. We are planning to ask cooperative societies to lend a helping hand to beneficiaries after they get the allotment letters. The first instalment will be released later directly to the cooperative society,” said Khader.
The allotment letter of a housing scheme will be sanctioned within a week after the Housing Department gets the beneficiaries’ list from a district.
Rules need re-look : The minister said that the Karnataka Housing Board has decided to relax rules to boost sale of its apartments and houses.
The Board has slashed the initial deposit to be paid by buyers to Rs 50,000. It has also decided to relax conditions like mandatory submission of income certificate and the buyer having to be a resident of a particular district for five years.
The Board is also mulling building apartments with G+14 model instead of G+3, in order to cater to the housing needs of people.
Stating that priority will be given to implementation of the Smart City project and Phase 2 of ADB funded UGD works in Mangaluru, he said that Commissioner will be appointed for the special purpose vehicle (SPV) to implement smart city project, and the plans for the same are ready. All the hurdles in this connection will be solved soon, he added.
Khader reiterated that he will not indulge in politics when it comes to development of the district.
“I will take all elected representatives into confidence while taking up the work. Discussions will be held with educationists, builders, retired staff and elected representatives among others on the urgent work that needs to be taken up in Dakshina Kannada,” he said.
Speaking further, he said, “If any development work requires any help from the state government, then it will be brought to the notice of the chief minister to expedite the work. If the Central government’s help is required, then a delegation would be taken to Delhi to impress upon the Union Ministers to accelerate the work.”
He added that he would work for peace and harmony in the district.