Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government today
announced launch of a "mega" housing project to convert 21
lakh mud-walled dwelling units of the poor people into
concrete houses free of cost over a six-year period.
The `Kalaignar Housing Scheme`, named after Chief
Minister M Karunanidhi, envisages an initial investment of Rs
1,800 crore to construct three lakh permanent houses in the
coming financial year, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said in
his customary address to the state Assembly.
"A miserable situation still exists where, across the
state poor people are living in mud-walled houses with
thatched roofs and were affected by natural calamities,"
Barnala said, adding the state government had estimated that
there were 21 lakh such houses in the state.
A "mega scheme" to convert these thatched roof houses to
concrete-roofed ones will commence from 2010-11, he said,
adding it would take six years to complete the project.
"In the coming financial year, three lakh permanent
houses will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,800
crore. This scheme will pave (the way) for hutless villages
and will be called Kalaignar Housing Scheme," he added.
The Karunanidhi-led government has already implemented a
free Colour TV scheme and the Kalaignar Insurance Scheme,
offering free medical treatment up to a sum of Rs one lakh for
persons with an annual income of Rs 72,000 or less, in
corporate hospitals to one crore families.
PTI
