The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Margin-free outlets for building materials

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Thursday, Mar 20, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Margin-free outlets for building materials

Special Correspondent

Rs.50 lakh allotted for the purpose, says Viswom

Houses for six lakh people planned
Housing Board to give away title deeds of flats

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ‘Nirmithi Kendra’ will set up margin-free shops for selling building materials at reasonable prices, Minister for Housing Benoy Viswom has said.

Replying to questions in the Assembly on Wednesday, Mr. Viswom said a sum of Rs.50 lakh had been allocated for setting up these shops. The Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) will distribute title deeds of flats without delay.

Title deeds had been distributed in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. KSHB would take the initiative to utilise common amenities such as parking space and children’s park on the premises of these flats, Mr. Viswom said.

The board has to repay loans worth Rs.900 crore to the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO). Now, the government is trying for a one-time settlement.

The housing policy prepared by the government aims at providing houses to six lakh people in the State in ten years, the Minister said.

Electricity Minister A.K. Balan said the energy conservation campaign launched by the Energy Management Centre (EMC) helped save 11.34 mw power last year. A sum of Rs.2 crore has been allocated for setting up an Energy Management Institute. Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said 4,421 persons died in road accidents during 2007-08.

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