HYDERABAD: When the city is expanding and real estate prices are hitting the roof, where is the space for constructing houses for poor? And if the Government's urban housing scheme is to be taken up in the surrounding rural areas of Ranga Reddy district, what will happen to locals?

District ZP members brought the issue to the notice of Minister for Mines and Geology P. Sabitha Indra Reddy at the general body meeting on Saturday. They said there were apprehensions of locals losing out under Rajiv Gruhakalpa scheme.

The Minister too agreed with the members and said the issue was brought to the notice of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and the latter was likely to announce a comprehensive policy within a week.

ORR project

"It is true the land has become very costly and local people should be given preference under the housing scheme. We have already sought a survey of vacant Government lands for taking up construction," she said. Earlier, the meeting got off to a stormy start with ZP Vice-Chairman Nand Kumar Yadav stating that many farmers were apprehensive over the proposed outer ring road (ORR). The Minister explained that ORR was given the nod after two years of hectic consultations and examining every objection. She said a meeting on ORR would be held with elected representatives of Ranga Reddy district and officials of Hyderabad Urban Development Authority and the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation on March 9.

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