Slum-dwellers oppose CM KCR’s housing programme

Demand individual title deeds, separate houses

Warangal: Unmindful of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s warning that construction work of ground plus one structures in the slums would be stopped if the local people failed to extend their cooperation, many residents were opposing the proposal.

The State government’s proposal to build ground plus one housing for poorer sections living in the slums in and around the Warangal Municipal Corporation has received mixed response from the slum dwellers and at several places it has become a cause for clashes between the residents.

The locals seem to be not bothering about the Chief Minister’s caution on halting of construction works if the locals failed to cooperate with the officials. As a majority of residents were opposing the construction of ground plus one structures, it was causing worry to the officials.

The residents opposing the proposal have been arguing that they were living at the places since a long time by developing the sites. While some have erected mud houses, some others have built concrete houses. “How could the government now demolish our houses to build ground plus one houses to provide space for someone else on our land,” questioned Laxmi and Sarojana of Garibnagar Colony in Geesukonda mandal which falls under the Corporation limits.

“We have been living here for many years and protecting the piece of land which we occupied. Now the government wants someone else to live on our land. We don’t agree for this,” they told The Hans India on Tuesday. They said that they have girl children in their houses and if those joining them do not possess a good character, it would cause a lot of complications later. The reason for opposing ground plus one housing was to avoid such complications in future, they explained.

The same was the opinion of majority of residents at Deendayal Nagar, Jitender Nagar, Pragathi Nagar, Laxmipuram and other slums. “We just need title deeds (pattas) from the government. There is no need for ground plus one housing,” Manjulatha and Ramesh of Deendayal Nagar said.

“If the government wants to build houses, it should construct individual houses for those occupying the land,” they said. On the other hand, those who do not occupy government lands and were living on rental basis, welcomed the government’s proposal. “It is not correct to oppose the government’s decision. Those occupying the lands at slums have not bought them. Why do not they allow the others to derive benefit,” said Laxman Kumar of Pragathi Nagar. He urged the Chief Minister to be firm and execute the programme at any cost to benefit all.

Meanwhile, those who are against the housing scheme proposed by Chandrashekar Rao, are preventing the survey teams from taking measurements of their houses and colonies. Senior BJP leader and former mayor T Rajeshwara Rao and former MLA M Dharma Rao too opposed the government’s plan.

Deendayal Nagar was established while the BJP was at the helm of affairs in the Municipal Corporation in 1989. The BJP provided lands to about 600 families. “The BJP would oppose construction of one plus one housing. The government should issue pattas and construct individual houses for those living in huts and sheds,” the party leaders said.

However, Warangal (West) MLA D Vinay Bhasker appealed to the slum dwellers not to come under the influence of opposition parties and cooperate with the government in executing the housing programme. “The CM has got great ideas on development of Warangal and let them be implemented,” he added.

By:James Edwin