AP Govt takes up steep steel price hike with PM: Minister

Hyderabad, Mar 24 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has taken up with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the steep hike in the price of steel, affecting construction of houses under the prestigious INDIRAMMA programme, Housing Minister B Satyanarayana informed the State Assembly today.

Replying to the debate on the demands of the Housing department, he shared the concerns expressed by members cutting across party lines over 40 per cent hike in the price of steel and expressed confidence that there would be a positive response from the Centre.

The state government, which had taken up the responsibility of providing cement to the beneficiaries at the price prevailing in 2004, was considering supplying steel at a subsidised rate to them.

Promising to sanction houses in the third phase to eligible people left out during the two phases of INDIRAMMA programme, he offered to visit any village for a review of the implementation of the programme and take corrective measures wherever necessary.

Houses for the poor would be provided in a big way in urban areas, including Hyderabad, under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, he said adding that there was no dearth of funds for acquiring house sites.

Earlier, seeking clarifications, TDP Member K Atcham Naidu demanded that the subsidy component of each house be increased to Rs 60,000 from the present Rs 25,000 as the beneficiaries were not at all in a position to complete house construction following hefty hike in the construction material cost.

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