Housing Corporation to handle sand mining in 40 reaches

The construction activity and several projects, including government housing schemes that were hit badly in the state due to severe shortage of sand supplies, can look for some solace as the state government has authorised the Andhra Pradesh State Housing Corporation Limited (APSHCL) to handle sand mining in about 40 identified reaches.

Addressing a press conference at Secretariat here on Friday, minister for housing N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the department of mines and geology permitted APSHCL to take up the mining as there were no takers for the 40 reaches.

The housing department will take up the mining and supply the sand free of cost to the beneficiaries of government-sponsored housing schemes. They will, however, have to bear the cost of transportation.

The corporation has decided to supply sand at no loss-no profit basis to private individuals, who were facing problems due to acute shortage of sand supplies in state. It can be purchased at `325 per cubic metre from APSHCL.

Stringent Action Against Corrupt Staff:

Uttam Reddy said the government had received several complaints against housing staff that they were allegedly resorting to corruption and harassing beneficiaries by demanding money in return of favours.

As the housing scheme is purely meant for poor and weaker sections, collecting money from them was a serious offense and warned government would not spare any corrupt worker. Outsourcing staff found guilty of corruption would be dismissed from the services immediately, he added.

He directed the district project director to ensure that all beneficiaries open their bank account so that payment can be made online directly to maintain transparency. The APSHCL is taking necessary step to introduce latest technologies such as SMS and geo-tagging, to reduce any fraudulent practices.

Launch of Construction of 10 Lakh Individual Toilets in the State on October 1:

On occasion of World Habitat Day, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will launch a programme of constructing 10 lakh individual latrines in the state, at Ravindra Bharathi on October 1.

He said every house in the state must have toilet facilities. The APSHCL has put the responsibility of ensuring that every house has toilet facilities on the district project directors.

Uttam Reddy said Kiran will hold a meeting with the owners of cement companies to sort out the cement shortages. He said the state government was considering additional assistance of `20,000 to all the fishermen families.