The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka draws up major housing plan

Construction of Ashraya houses in Karnataka, which witnessed slow progress in the last three years, is likely to gain speed during the current fiscal. The Karnataka Government is planning to construct three lakh Ashraya houses in 2006-07.

Speaking to newspersons on Sunday, Mr D.T. Jayakumar, Housing Minister, said that the State could not make much progress in the construction of Ashraya houses in the past few years due to various factors.

"However, the Government will construct three lakh Ashraya houses during the current financial year. Preliminary works in this regard are on."

Ashraya houses are low-cost dwelling units for families below poverty line.

To commemorate `Suvarna Karnataka' - the 50th year of formation of the State - the Government is planning to develop 500 properties, including house sites, in every taluk.

Added to this, the Government will set up model villages in 202 Assembly constituencies in the State. Under this, 100 houses will be built in every model village as a pilot project.

Stating that the MLA concerned would identify the villages for the implementation of the project, he said that the Government intends to complete the project during 2006-07.

The Government will emulate the Chinese model in this regard. In China, urban facilities have been provided at select villages by constructing houses there, he said.

SLUM-FREE KARNATAKA

The Karnataka Government is planning to make the State slum-free by 2015. In this regard, the Government is preparing a master plan. Stating that a survey was conducted on slums in the State in 2003, the Minister said that a demand survey is on in this matter.

The Government is planning to follow the Mumbai model on development of slums in the State. Under this, a developer has to earmark nearly 50 per cent of the land for vertical development.

Slum dwellers will be rehabilitated in those properties. The Government will take up this project in slum areas such as Lingarajapura, Agrahara-Dasarahalli, and Laggere in Bangalore on a pilot basis. Soon the model will be introduced in all municipal limits, he said.

LAND FOR POOR

The Government is also planning to come out with a law stipulating that developers - both private and Government agencies - should earmark 10 per cent of the property for poor people.

Mr Jayakumar said that a draft would be submitted before the Cabinet for its approval. Housing societies, private developers, and urban development authorities would be required to earmark 10 per cent of the property for the poor at a nominal price.

HOUSES FOR FISHERMEN

The Minister said that the Government would construct 10,000 houses for fishermen in the State.

They will be provided with a house at an estimated cost of Rs 1 lakh per unit.

Fishermen will have to pay Rs 10,000 as initial payment in the first year.

They will not be charged interest if they repay the amount in 10 years. However, they may be charged interest if the repayment period goes beyond 10 years.

KHB PLANS

The Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) has initiated various plans for the construction of low-cost quality houses in the State.

It is developing 5,000 properties in Suryanagar in Bangalore.

Already, it has got around 1.5 lakh applications for these properties. These properties are much cheaper than the ones in the nearby areas, he said.

KHB is developing layouts in Kankanady, Kunjathbail, Padavu-Shaktinagara, and Ullal-Someshwara in Dakshina Kannada; and in Shivalli, Kumbhasi and Hebri, and Udupi district at a cost of Rs 16.5 crore, he added.

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