CHENNAI: Finance minister Thangam Thennarasu on Monday announced that state govt would launch a 3,500 crore housing scheme named after former chief minister M Karunanidhi to provide concrete housing for rural poor with the objective of creating a hut-free Tamil Nadu.
Presenting the Budget, the minister said the new scheme named ‘Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam’ would be implemented with the objective of constructing eight lakh concrete houses in rural areas. State has set aside 3,500 crore for the scheme, which would be implemented in a phased manner.
“To create a hut-free TN by 2030, eight lakh concrete houses will be constructed in rural areas. In the first phase, one lakh new houses will be built at a unit cost of 3.5 lakh per house in the coming year,” he said.
Under the scheme, selected beneficiaries would be provided with house sites in case they are landless and the funds for constructing the house would be deposited directly into their bank accounts, the minister said.
The scheme was designed based on a recent survey of state govt during which it was discovered that there were eight lakh huts in rural areas.
The budget provided a major fillip in providing basic amenities to rural areas. In the coming year, 2,000 new overhead tanks would be constructed in rural areas at a cost of 365 crore.
Similarly, 300 crore has been earmarked for developing amenities in adjoining metro cities. “Tamil Nadu stands out as the most urbanized state in the country. In the rapidly growing extended areas adjacent to municipal corporations such as Greater Chennai corporation, there is a need to develop road infrastructure, drinking water supply and street lighting facilities,” Thangam Thennarasu said.
