AP judged third best-performing state

Andhra Pradesh secured third in the 'best-performing state' category in the annual awards. The state received awards in 'project monitoring tools' and 'innovative construction technology' categories under the 'special award' category and also Visakhapatnam received an award under the 'best performing municipal corporation' category. The chief minister received the awards from the Prime Minister virtually.

During the interaction, Jagan extended new year's greeting to Modi and others on behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh.

The chief minister then said the prime minister has envisioned 'Housing for All by 2022' by which the nation would complete 75 years of its independence. The programme is of particular relevance to Andhra Pradesh, which is vulnerable to natural disasters like cyclones, heavy rains and floods due to its 974 km long coastline. Due to the vagaries of nature, it is the poor who suffer the most, in the absence of a permanent house.

The chief minister said Andhra Pradesh has taken the lead in the country in the implementation of PMYA (Urban). Andhra Pradesh has taken a special drive to provide house sites to 30.75 lakh poor people throughout the state and 68,677 acres of land, including 25,433 acres of government land, has been plotted and distributed to the eligible poor families.

"As many as 16,098 EWS Housing Colonies are being developed in urban areas and it is the wish of the government to provide required infrastructure in terms of roads, drains, water and electricity along with necessary social infrastructure for the housing colonies. It is estimated that an amount of Rs. 12,410 crores will be required for providing necessary infrastructure in the colonies," he said.

Over 20.21 lakh houses were sanctioned so far to the state under the scheme. The government will ensure that all the houses are completed as per schedule before 2022. "The houses and house sites are being registered in the names of women beneficiaries only. We are sure that this would go a long way in promoting women empowerment and in ensuring financial security for women," the chief minister said.

Construction of such a large number of houses within the stipulated time frame is difficult without the adoption of new construction methodologies, innovative thinking and planning. The state government has procured the entire land required, so as to avoid any hiccups in the grand endeavour. The chief minister thanked the prime minister for encouraging the state in that regard and also congratulated him for launching Global Housing Technology Challenge for identifying sustainable, eco-friendly and disaster resilient technologies from across the globe for housing and construction sector.

"At this crucial juncture of Covid-19, construction of the houses at this mammoth scale will give a huge boost to the economy besides providing employment to people belonging to over 30 occupational categories like masonry, carpentry, plumbing and the like contributing to post-Covid economic revival," he said.

The state government has travelled a great distance towards achieving this goal of 'Housing for all' by 2022 by distributing housing plots to all 100% eligible poor families and sanction of houses to 67% of all eligible poor families. Additional sanction of 8.95 lakh houses by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the sanction of soft loans of Rs. 12,410 crores by HUDCO or other financial institutions will help the government to complete its journey towards achieving the goal of housing for all.

The chief minister said it is the privilege and honour for the state of Andhra Pradesh to be selected as one of the best performing states in the country in the implementation of PMYA (Urban).

Deputy Chief Minister Dharmana Krishnadas, Municipal and Urban Development Minister Botsa Satyanarayana, Housing Minister Cherukuvada Ranganadharaju, MP Balashouwry, Chief Secretary Adityanath Das, Land Administration Chief Commissioner Neerabh Kumar Prasad, Housing Secretary Ajay Jain, Municipal Administration Principal Secretary Srilakshmi and other officials were present in the video conference.