Cement quota hiked for II phase Indiramma beneficiaries in AP

Hyderabad, Sep 11 (UNI) Bowing to public demand, the Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to increase the quantum of subsidised cement for the beneficiaries of the second phase of the Indiramma scheme, inaugurated by United Progressive Alliance Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

The Government also decided to double the quantum of loan from banks under the 'Indira Kranthi Patham' (IKP) to Rs 20,000 for the housing scheme beneficiaries under the second phase of the Indiramma scheme, Housing Minister B Satyanarayana told reporters here today.

Under the second phase of the programme christened 'Intintiki Indiramma', the beneficiaries would be provided 50 cement bags at a subsidised rate of Rs 145 per bag as against 40 bags supplied in the first phase of the programme. Beneficiaries availing the IKP loan for house construction would be charged interest at the rate of three per cent, he added.

Denying the Opposition charge that the housing programme was implemented only ''on paper'', the Minister wanted the ''computer-savvy'' TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu to browse the housing department's website to know the facts.

Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy would tour the State from tomorrow to take part in the 'Gruhapravesam' (house warming ceremony) of the newly-built houses under the first phase during the 'Indiramma Samvaralu (festival)' and distribute 'pattas' (titles) to the beneficiaries. So far, documentation had been completed for over 9.30 lakh houses, he added.

During the 'Samvaralu', the duration of which was extended from a week to ten days from September 20, job cards would be given to eligible labourers and new Women Self Help groups would be enrolled for providing bank linkage at a low interest rate of three per cent under the 'Indira Kranthi Patham', Mr Satyanarayana said.

The toll-free number provided to the public for registering complaints regarding the housing programme had evoked good response, he said, adding that as many as 127 of the 538 complaints had been resolved and action initiated on 286 complaints. Rest of the complaints were unrelated to the housing programme.

UNI