Govt to bear entire cost of houses for SC/STs, minorities under BPL scheme

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the government will bear 100% of the construction cost of up to Rs 5 lakh to construct single houses for BPL families belonging to SC/STs and minorities in the city.

During the city tour on Saturday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that the social welfare fund of Rs 700 crore is lying unused with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike. This fund is exclusively reserved for SC/STs and other backward communities living in slums.

Addressing slum dwellers at Rajendranagar under BTM Layout after laying a foundation stone for one such “single house”, Siddaramaiah said, “There are 625 houses to be built under the single house scheme. The estimated cost of construction is Rs 5 lakh each of which Rs 4.5 lakh is provided by the government. The rest is borne by the beneficiary. I will direct the BBMP commissioner to ensure that BBMP bears the share of balance Rs 50,000 for SC/STs and minorities. These communities will get the house free of cost.”

During his visit to Church Street, the chief minister directed BBMP engineers to complete the work in three months. The Palike is laying granite slabs on pavements.
He inspected the remodelling of the stormwater drain at Adugodi. The convoy then moved to Mestripalya where the BBMP is developing a park next to the Mestripalya lake. He directed officials to improve the park and the lake by October. The park is being developed at a cost of Rs 7 crore.

The chief minister inspected the ‘Swabhimani Udyana Vana’ at HSR Layout. On paper, the parks is spread across 11 acres and 22 guntas but in reality, it is just nine acres and 20 guntas. After residents prevented encroachment of the park, it is now being developed.

MLC V S Ugrappa complained that many illegal buildings have come up around the park where building byelaws have been given flouted.

“Buildings are under construction on two sites without amalgamating them. At least six to seven storey structures have been built on a plot where the permission is only for four storeys,” complained Ugrappa.

He accused BBMP ward engineer Venkatesh of ignoring the complaints. Heeding to the complaint, the chief minister directed the Palike commissioner to suspend him. Later, he said Swabhimani Udyana Vana will be developed into a model park.

He inspected the flyover work on the outer ring road as part of the signal-free corridor. The chief minister then visited the Indira Canteen at Kanakanapalya playground.

He said that on Church Street, utilities were being shifted and work will be completed in three months.