Multi-storey houses will replace Ashraya houses in Ombattukere

Mangaluru: Since the beneficiaries refused to occupy the houses built under the Ashraya scheme, around 300 unoccupied houses, built under the scheme in Ombattukere area in Ullal, will be brought down and replaced by new multi-storey houses,  said Minister for Urban Development and Housing U.T. Khader.

Addressing reporters Khader said that the proposal for demolishing the Ashraya houses will be placed before the Legislature Committee for approval.

More than 300 houses constructed for the poor under the Ashraya scheme at Ombathukere in Ullal have remained unoccupied since 2002. Owing to court cases pertaining the houses, they remained unallocated and thus the structures have reduced to their present dilapidated condition. The beneficiaries also refused to occupy the houses due to lack of drainage system and other basic facilities there.

The minister said that the present system of building ground plus three storey complex would not help in giving houses to beneficiaries who are more than two lakh. So he said he was proposing to build multi-storey ground plus 14 storey residential complex for the house-less across the State.

The Housing Department is planning on entering into a tie-up with local cooperative societies to provide short-term loans for beneficiaries of various housing schemes, since the beneficiaries found it difficult to arrange the money to take up work on foundation, informed Khader.

Karnataka Housing Board has decided to relax rules to boost sale of its apartments and houses, said the minister. The Board has slashed the initial deposit to be paid by buyers to Rs 50,000. The previous rules of mandatory submission of income certificate and the buyer having to be a resident of a particular district for five years have also been relaxed by the board.