500 houses to come up for poor in Kannur, says Khader

District In-charge Minister U T Khader announced that 500 houses will be built to provide housing facilities for the poor under the Karnataka Slum Development Board programme at an estimated cost of Rs 28.5 crore at Kannur on the outskirts of Mangaluru.

He was speaking after laying the foundation for development works worth Rs 203 crore taken up by the Mangaluru City Corporation, KUIDFC-KIUWMIP, here at Urwa Church Hall in Ladyhill on Tuesday.

Khader said, “When I was holding the portfolio of housing, I had tried my level best to ensure development works in Mangaluru. Accordingly, the Karnataka Slum Development Board decided to construct 500 houses for the poor. The land has already been identified and tender is in its final stage for the construction of houses. The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of houses will be held within a week.”

Mangaluru is fast developing as a tier-II city in Karnataka. The Council of Mangaluru City Corporation has approved drinking water projects at an estimated cost of Rs 460 crore. The work on incomplete UGD systems is being taken up at a cost of Rs 195 crore in Mangaluru.

He said reforms are being introduced in the Mangaluru City Corporation along with development works. Preparations are on to provide services like issue of birth and death certificates, trade licenses and other services under a single window system. Applications related to trade licenses should be cleared within a week, he said.

Facilities worth Rs 45.48 lakh were distributed to 679 beneficiaries under the Poverty Alleviation Cell of the Mangaluru City Corporation on the occasion.

Hearing aid, artificial limbs, wheelchairs, financial assistance for patients, financial assistance for construction of toilets, financial assistance for students, laptop for students, aid for repairing houses, water connection, were distributed.

The foundation was laid for work on rehabilitation and reconstruction of UGD system in zone 1, 4 and 7 of the Mangaluru City Corporation at an estimated cost of 100.45 crore, water supply system at an estimated cost of Rs 35.51 crore, UGD works under ADB-funded projects worth Rs 67.68 crore, on the occasion.

Mangaluru South MLA D Vedavyasa Kamath presided over the programme.

Parliamentary secretary to the chief minister Ivan D’Souza, Mayor Bhaskar and others were present.