Indiramma Housing Scheme: Pending Final Bills to Be Released Soon

The Telangana government will release pending final bills to beneficiaries who have completed their houses under the Indiramma Housing Scheme within the next few days, Revenue, Housing and Information and Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy has announced. He assured beneficiaries that delays in receiving payments would be resolved shortly.

During his visit to the Paleru constituency, the minister distributed sanction letters to 145 beneficiaries selected under the second phase of the scheme in Nelakondapalli, in the presence of the district collector and local representatives. He said construction had been completed on 620 of the 648 houses sanctioned in the mandal during the first phase. Officials have been instructed to speed up work on the remaining houses.

Criticising the previous government for failing to fulfil the housing aspirations of poor families, Ponguleti said the present government had sanctioned 4.5 lakh houses in the first phase and 2.5 lakh in the second phase. Another one lakh houses are planned in Hyderabad, while construction of Indiramma Towers is progressing.

The government intends to spend ₹40,000 crore on eight lakh houses, providing ₹5 lakh for each unit. He added that eligible families would be covered in the next three or four phases.The Telangana government will restore the historical Buddhist stupa at Nelakondapalli in Khammam district and develop it into an international Buddhist tourism destination, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said.

The minister laid foundation stones for development, tourism infrastructure and heritage conservation works alongside District Collector Divakara T.S. He said the third-century Buddhist monument was identified around 50 to 55 years ago and is regarded as one of the country's largest stupas.

Archaeological excavations within approximately 1.5 kilometres of the monument uncovered several ancient artefacts. As local preservation facilities were inadequate, the objects were transferred to a museum in Hyderabad. The government would take measures to protect these historical treasures and improve recognition of the Buddhist heritage site.

Ponguleti said development plans would incorporate suggestions from Buddhist communities worldwide, local residents and heritage experts. A meeting involving specialists and officials would be organised to discuss conservation and visitor facilities.

He assured that the government would allocate the necessary funds to preserve the site's historical importance while making it a major attraction for Buddhist pilgrims and tourists. Heritage Department officials, tourism representatives, local elected representatives and other district officials attended the programme.