Minister for Municipal Administration Dr. P. Narayana instructed the officials to achieve financial empowerment by developing and selling houses under the auspices of Urban Development Authorities in AP. He suggested that necessary steps should be taken to construct MIG (Middle Income Group) and HIG (Higher Income Group) houses near urban areas.
He advised the Joint Collectors of the respective districts, who are the Vice-Chairmen of Urban Development Authorities, to select the necessary land for the construction of these houses. In the united Andhra Pradesh, under the auspices of Housing Boards, Housing Board colonies were constructed for the middle class and high income groups in the cities.
Gradually, the activities of the Housing Board decreased. With real estate businesses, urban development authorities have been limited to granting only layout permits. In this context, the state government has taken a key decision. It is planning to generate revenue by undertaking layouts as well as house construction within the limits of all urban development authorities across the state.
It is planned that if local urban development organizations directly develop the sites, people will get houses and house sites with basic facilities at low prices. Minister Narayana suggested that steps should be taken to complete the site selection by the end of the month.
He suggested that studies be conducted in other states regarding the construction of houses, and to the VCs and chairmen of urban development authorities. He said that garbage, drinking water, drainage canals, flood water canals, street lights and roads should be given first priority in municipalities. After that, priority should be given to parks, layouts and construction of houses.
He said that the income coming to urban authorities should be used in the right way for things that are necessary and useful for the people. Since the financial situation of the state is not good, he suggested that it should focus on mobilizing resources on its own. He said that by constructing houses in places suitable for urban expansion and charging affordable prices, it will not only be useful for the common man but also gain a good name.
The JCs of the respective districts explained the details of the availability of land in each of the three UDAs. After the formation of the coalition government, the Joint Collectors of the districts were appointed as Vice-Chairmen to strengthen the Urban Development Authorities. The Minister said that the Director of the Town Planning Department is being appointed as the nodal officer for the Urban Development Authorities.
