Minister urges squatters to relocate

Commercial taxes minister T Srinivas Yadav on Tuesday inspected the Phool Bagh Housing Society in Basheerbagh and requested the basti members to vacate the land. The minister directed the basti leaders to take responsibility and request the squatters to relocate so that the society’s construction could be carried out.

The Phool Bagh Housing Colony, which was sanctioned under the JNNURM Scheme, consists of 608 houses. Total cost of the project is Rs 1,664.96 lakh. Since 2010, houses are being constructed for squatters from Unniwada, Gajularamaram and Kurmalguda. Of the 608 houses, 272 houses in 17 blocks have been partially constructed (80 per cent).

These houses have been illegally occupied along with the vacant land in the remaining 21 blocks by the basti dwellers. Srinivas Yadav informed the squatters that once the construction is completed, the houses would be allotted to the beneficiaries as per the enumeration carried out in the presence of basti dwellers. He also informed that the dwellers need not worry and that the entire process would be transparent. The minister gave 15 days time to complete the construction of 272 houses and six months for the entire project.