The Karnataka Government will built 12,000 houses for poor under the Ashraya housing scheme in this city over the next two years, State Housing Minister Mr V. Somanna said today.

Speaking at a function after laying foundation stone for construction of 840 houses for areca labourers at Virupina Koppa at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore, he said the Government was ready to rebuild all dilapidated houses constructed under Ashraya housing scheme, if the occupants vacated it.

He said about 12 per cent of the State population still live in huts and the Government has planned to provide them with right of land certificate within a month and help them build houses.