2BHK dream chase costs them shelter

Khammam: Buoyed by the promise of double bedroom house made by the people’s representatives a number of people in several assembly constituencies demolished their houses to show the extent of land available for the construction of two-bedroom houses. But their joy was short lived after the government announced that the double bedroom houses would be allotted on lottery system.

It may be recalled that the State government announced the construction of double bedroom houses for the poor to put an end to the irregularities in the sanction of Indiramma houses. The minister in-charge for the district and the local MLA were entrusted with the responsibility of selecting the names of the beneficiaries.

The MLAs with the help of Tahsildars prepared the list of beneficiaries in various mandals. Later, the beneficiaries were informed that their names were in the list to get double bedroom house and were asked to remove the old house to show the extent of land available for the construction.

The beneficiaries of Tanikella and Teegala Banjara in Konijarla mandal demolished their houses and have been living in makeshift houses exposing themselves to the elements of nature. The same situation prevails in almost all the constituencies.

As per the original GO, each constituency was allotted 400 double bedroom houses with an equal quota for the minister in-charge of the district and the local MLA. The local leaders visited the houses of beneficiaries to prepare the list.

Following the displeasure expressed by the Hyderabad High Court, the state government issued new guidelines to allot the double bedroom houses on lottery basis inthe presence of the minister in-charge and the district collector.

The new guidelines pushed the local leaders in catch-22 situation. They do not know what explanation they could give to the beneficiaries in the first list.

The MLAs are in a more pitiable situation. They are not in a position to allot houses as promised to the beneficiaries. Moreover, they do not know how to answer to the beneficiaries who demolished their houses.

Challa Sakkubai of Tanikella village in Konijerla mandal said that they had demolished their house with the hope of getting new house. Now it is not sure whether we get the house or not, she said adding that they are suffering due to the vagaries of nature in the makeshift houses. Pandilla Sreenu of the same village recalled that the ruling party leaders came to the village and stated that his name in the list of beneficiaries.

We demolished our hut to show the extent of land available for the house, he said. Now along with aged parents and children we are living in a small shed. Derangula Veerabhadram lamented that the leaders are saying that the earlier rules were changed and now the houses would be allotted on lottery system. The house was demolished and we are living in a tent made of gunny bags, he said. These people appeal to the people’s representatives to make sure they are allotted double bedroom houses.

By:Nagender Adapala