KURNOOL : Shortage of construction material and masons is anticipated, as the administration is getting ready for construction of 80,000 houses costing Rs. 200 crores under the `Indiramma' programme in Kurnool district.

According to an estimate, 1,60,000 tons of cement, 32 million bricks and five lakh tractor loads of sand are required to complete houses.

It is expected that locally available stones will be used for construction of walls of the 50 per cent houses, while cement bricks for the rest.

Cement price

District officials are in a hurry for contract for supply of cement as the price peaked to Rs. 150 per bag as against Rs. 110 a few months ago.

The administration is willing to buy even at Rs. 135 to Rs. 140. A total of 46 sand extraction points have been identified for supply of sand.

Housing District Manager P. Vijayakumar has said considering the large volume of the project, the department planned to train 160 masons by four master masons who in turn will be trained by experts of National Academy of Construction.

A total of 264 brick-manufacturing units will be sponsored to ensure steady supply of material to the project.

Survey

According to a survey in 2001, around 3.31 lakh families were without houses in Kurnool district. Under the Indiramma programme, around 80,000 houses will be constructed every year for three years.

Each housing unit costs Rs. 25,000. Of it, 17,500 will be loan and Rs. 7,000 will be subsidy from the Government.

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