Plan to hand over 38,000 houses by month end, says Zameer

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan announced that Karnataka Slum Development Board (KSDB) planned on handing over 38,000 houses to poor beneficiaries across the state in the second phase by July end or August first week.

He made the comments after a meeting with Additional Chief Secretary LK Atheeq on Monday. He said the Housing Department had secured approval for the release of Rs.860 crore for the second phase of housing allocation.

The minister said that the construction of these houses is nearing completion and that the necessary infrastructure work will be expedited to finalize the distribution dates.

The KSDB is building 1,80,253 houses. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had handed over keys to 36,789 houses to beneficiaries in March. Zameer said that the State government had decided to bear the beneficiary's share of the housing scheme, as poor families selected under the scheme were unable to pay and faced difficulties obtaining loans from banks.

The meeting was also attended by KHB Chairman Shivalinge Gowda, Housing Department Secretary Naveen Raj Singh, Housing Board Commissioner Kavita Mannikeri, Chief Engineer Ravikumar, Slum Development Board Commissioner Ashok, Chief Engineer Balaraju, and Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation MD Susheelamma.