South African delegation visits AP

Hyderabad, Apr 26 (UNI) A delegation from South Africa called on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy at his camp office here today.

The delegation led by South Africa Housing Minister L N Sisula was here after visiting neighbouring Maharashtra to study the AP model of housing programmes, invited Dr Reddy to her country.

Union Housing Joint Secretary Pankaj Jain, who accompanied the delegation, said 22.45 million housing units were being planned by the Centre in the tenth plan.

The Chief Minister informed her that his Government had drawn up an ambitious Integrated Novel Development of Rural Areas and Model Municipal Areas(INDIRAMMA) to provide housing to weaker sections on top priority. In addition to providing pucca houses, all basic amenities and infrastructural facilities would be provided in one-third of villages every year and cover all the villages in three years, he said .

The State Government allocated Rs 1824 crore for construction of 17 lakh houses in 2006-07, an increase of 151 per cent over the previous year, he informed.

For the urban poor, a novel housing scheme ''Rajiv Gruhakalpa'' had been taken up, he added.

UNI SM VV RP HS1803