Own house still distant dream for poor in Mahbubnagar

Mahbubnagar: The much hyped double bedroom houses scheme of the State government is still a distant dream for the poor homeless people of Mahbubnagar district. Though the State government had sanctioned about 10,360 double bedroom houses to both Mahbubnagar and Narayanpet districts in the past, the government called tenders for the construction of only 10,013 houses so far, of them the contractors signed agreement to construct 6,605 houses in both the district.

However, since the beginning of construction of double bedroom houses in the year 2016, during the past three years only 2115 houses have been completed. The district administration has allocated 330 houses to the beneficiaries, while the remaining 1785 double bedroom houses are left idle without being allocated to anyone.

It is said that so far the government spent Rs 135.49 crore and could complete only 2115 houses while the remaining houses are under construction and in various stages. During the past three years, except at one or two places, the construction activity of the double bedroom houses is going at snail's pace in Mahbubnagar district.

So far the officials could complete the double bedroom houses only in the urban parts of Mahbubnagar, while those in rural areas the construction activity is yet to be taken up. The double bedroom houses under MLA quota are also not being taken up as expected because neither the officials nor the local MLA is taking keen interest for the construction.

However, the double bedroom houses promised by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, during his visit on an earlier occasions to the people of Old Palamuru, Pata Kota and Veerannapeta colonies were constructed successfully within the given time.

Of the 2470 houses taken up for construction at Adarshnagar in Christianpally and at Divitipally village in Yedira, the officials have completed works on 1895 houses. While in other parts, the officials have completed 20 houses near Nijalapur in Devarkadra mandal another 200 houses in Jadcherla mandal.

Of the total completed houses the officials have allocated 20 houses in Nijalapur and 310 houses at Adarshnagar to the poor homeless beneficiaries. Though the 1585 double bedroom houses at Deivitipally have already completed more than 6 months ago, the officials are still listing out the eligible beneficiaries and it has been inordinately delayed for reasons unknown.

It is said that the contractor who had build the houses at Divitipally is not handing over the houses to the government because the government has not cleared the bill of the contractor.

"it is true that there has been a little delay in the construction of the double bedroom houses mainly because, the contractors were not showing interests, however, after constant persuasion, they have started construction and the pace is picking up now. We will very soon see we are on the verge of completing 2000 more houses soon," said M.V. Ramana Rao, Special officer, overlooking the double bedroom construction programme in Mahbubnagar.

All said and done, the poor people, who were looking eagerly for the double bedroom houses have now lost the enthusiasm and many have already lost hope of getting the same. "The government is just playing gimmicks and fooling the people by keeping them in false imagination.

I feel the government is in no mood to help the poor homeless people. It has been already 6 years past now but not a single beneficiary in the villages has got the benefit of double bedroom houses," said Hariram of Jadcherla from Shankarayapally village.