AP earmarks ₹50,000-cr for affordable housing

The state government in Andhra Pradesh has decided to invest ₹50,000 crore on building affordable housing units for the poor, the state minister for housing, Cherukuvada Sriranganadha Raju said recently in Vizianagaram. Prior to this, during a meeting with engineers of the housing department in the district, the minister made it clear that the responsibility of construction of houses for scheduled tribes would be given to one person instead of a major contractor and that each housing block for Dalits and scheduled tribes would consist of 20-25 units and also reiterated that the district must set a benchmark on this score. The state administration will also look at taking up the housing construction through convergence projects such as the NREGS. There would be special focus on housing for the poor as nearly 10,000 houses have been given to Vizianagaram district under various central schemes over the last five years. The minister maintained that special care would have to be taken when allotting houses as only genuine applicants should get the benefit of the scheme.