Mangaluru
The Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting, chaired by district Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, discussed the absence of housing sanctions for the poor in Dakshin Kannada under government schemes post 2021-2022. Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai raised concerns about the district not receiving housing scheme allocations since 2021-2022. Rai mentioned that the housing minister informed him that no requests for houses were submitted from Dakshin Kannada during 2021-22 to 2024-25.
Upon hearing a technical explanation from an official, the minister emphasized the seriousness of the issue and called for disciplinary action against responsible officials. The district, despite having government land available, failed to allocate houses over the past four years, which the minister termed as unacceptable negligence in implementing the housing scheme for the poor.
Officials reported that from 2010 to 2020, the district was sanctioned 64,123 houses, out of which 48,252 have been constructed, 4,898 are in progress, and the rest have not yet commenced. Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer, K Anandh mentioned a demand survey in 2018 indicating a need for 49,715 houses in the district, with no houses sanctioned post-2022.
MLC Ivan D’Souza and City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath also expressed concern over the deprivation of housing scheme benefits for the poor in the district during the meeting.
