Sand scarcity hits construction of 2BHKs in Kothagudem

Kothagudem: The construction of double bedroom houses, one of the prestigious schemes of the State government, is in a state of lethargy in the district with the works moving at snail’s pace.

It may be recalled that the government had allotted a large number of houses for the poor people in the district. However, due to tardy pace of works, the construction of houses might not be completed in the stipulated time.

According to official sources, the government has allotted a total of 6,118 houses both in the first and second phases to the district. But the officials concerned are able to manage construction of only 1,224 houses so far.

In the first phase, the government allotted 2,018 houses to the poor, while in the second phase, 4,100 houses were allotted. Of the 2,018 houses allotted in the first phase, the construction of about 1,174 houses has been completed. There is no clarity when the remaining 844 houses would be completed.

In the second phase, only 50 houses were completed out of 4,100 houses reflecting the concerned officials’ indifferent attitude towards the prestigious scheme of the government.

Meanwhile, the beneficiaries have been complaining that officers were not taking the scheme seriously. The progress of construction works is especially very poor in Kothagudem constituency, where in not a single house allotted under first phase has been completed. In the first phase and second phase, 1,800 houses were allotted for the consistency, whose works are at various levels of construction.

In the first phase, against 1,000 houses, 612 houses are still at foundation level, 84 houses at roof level, whereas foundation level works completed for 300 houses. In the second phase, against 800 houses, only 10 houses were completed in the Kothagudem constituency.

In second phase, the government allotted 4,100 houses to the district and of them no house has been completed in the constituencies of Bhadrachalam, Yellandu and Pinapaka, while 40 houses were constructed in Aswaraopet.

Meanwhile, more and more people are eagerly waiting for the houses. According to 2011 year census, the district had 13,04,811 population. It is identified that 18,000 people were without houses in the district.

However, only 600 houses were handed over to beneficiaries out of 1,174 completed houses in the district. The remaining 614 houses are not yet handed over, whose beneficiaries have been waiting for the last two years.

When contacted Tribal Welfare Executive Officer Koti Reddy, he told The Hans India that the construction works were going slowly due to the scarcity of sand, and a request is made to the Mining officer seeking supply of sand.