23,476 houses for homeless, poorer sections soon: Jaya

According to a release issued by the State government here on Wednesday, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa sanctioned the additional construction of 16,272 individual houses for economical weaker sections in their own plots and 7,204 apartments. 

As per the new initiative, the independent houses will be constructed in Chennai and other major towns like Vellore, Hosur, Ranipet, Virudhunagar and Madurai, besides 157 town panchayats. 

Detailing the scheme, the release said that the government would provide subsidy to the tune of Rs 2.1 lakh plus technical guidance through TNSCB to enable eligible (EWS) people to construct individual houses measuring up to an area of 300 sqft, on their own. 

As regards the apartments, they would measure 300 sqft and comprise a hall, bedroom, kitchen (1 BHK) and balcony each. The apartments numbering 7,204 would be constructed at Chennai, Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Erode, Coimbatore, Pudukottai, Namakkal and Nagapattinam. 

The TNSCB has constructed 59,023 houses (individual and apartments) throughout the state under various schemes in the last five years. At present, 3,024 flats and 7513 individual houses were being constructed at various places. It may be recalled that the AIADMK in its manifesto for the May 16 election promised 10 lakh houses to the home-less families in the state. But, the release did not make it clear whether the Wednesday announcement of 23,476 houses was part of the 10lakh scheme. 

The AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa ahead of the election in the party’s election manifesto also announced housing facility for fishermen families.  The AIADMK had also promised to repair those group houses constructed several years ago, which needed immediate attention, in its manifesto.