BENGALURU: An ambitious plan by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to build one lakh houses for the urban poor of Bengaluru has hit several hurdles, including shortage of land.
While 1,500 acres are needed for the projects, the office of the Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner has managed to identify around 1,014 acres and 10 guntas so far. However, even this is not without its share of problems, officials say.
At many places, the surveyors have found that the land is not feasible for construction due to the land quality.
“Some of the land parcels are abandoned quarries. Some are rocky, which is unsafe for constructing high rise buildings while others are under litigation,” an official from Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation, said. The agency is entrusted with the project. For the project, 431 acres and 11 guntas were identified in November last year and 582 acres and 39 guntas this March.
“This does not mean we have 1,014 acres. It is government land but the surface is not plain. Initially we might not even know if it has legal hurdles,” the official said. Surveyors also found that some of the land is in buffer zone. As per the National Green Tribunal directives, no construction activity can take place in the buffer zone of lake bed area which was increased from 30m to 75m.
According to senior Congress leaders, there is no question of scrapping the project or reducing the number of houses. On Wednesday, a meeting convened by the minister and the Chief Secretary regarding the housing scheme.
Housing Minister U T Khader said initially there were plans to construct ground plus three-floor buildings. But now that there is space constraint, there is a need to increase the number of floors.
“We are planning to construct ground plus 14 floors,” he said and added that if private builders can construct 10 to 20 floors, even the government can do it. However, even this decision is not without its problems. There is now dilemma over who will pay the monthly maintenance for these high rise buildings. Besides, these buildings are expected to add to Bengaluru’s water woes. When asked about the monthly maintenance, Khader said the government will take up the expenses including lift maintenance.
V Anbukumar, Managing Director, RGRHCL, told The New Sunday Express that a tender was floated before the assembly election to construct houses for ground plus three floors. “Since the election code of conduct was enforced, this was not taken forward. It is now in the final stages. Construction work will be taken up as per the instruction from higher authorities,” he said.
The interiors
Built-in 322 sqft, each house will have a room with a balcony, wardrobe, living room, kitchen with utility, bathroom with toilet. It will be furnished with fan and lights.