Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna recently handed over the keys of 43 newly constructed houses to tribal families and other beneficiaries in Kedamullur village. The MLA was speaking after inaugurating the housing units and associated infrastructure developed on a 7.50-acre parcel of land in Survey No. 370/1 of Kedamullur Gram Panchayat through the joint efforts of the District Administration, Zilla Panchayat and the Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department. Ponnanna said sustained efforts had been made to complete the housing project intended for members of the Yerava, Jenu Kuruba and Bettakuruba tribal communities. He noted that the project had stalled midway due to financial constraints. Subsequently, an additional grant of ?1.60 lakh per house was released through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding facilitated by the Bangalore Water Supply Department, enabling completion of the remaining work.
Recalling the project’s history, he said that each house had originally been estimated at Rs 5 lakh. However, rising construction costs forced the work to be halted midway. To address the shortfall, an additional grant of Rs 1 crore was secured under CSR funding.
The MLA stated that the layout has been developed with all essential amenities, including drainage facilities, street lighting and drinking water supply. Describing it as a well-planned residential layout, he urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the facilities and build a secure future for their families. Ponnanna said the original plan was to invite the Chief Minister to Virajpet for the formal handover of the houses. However, with the onset of the monsoon and to avoid inconvenience to beneficiaries, the keys of the 43 completed houses were handed over without further delay. He also stressed the need to provide house sites and housing facilities to all eligible Scheduled Tribe families and urged officials to expedite the completion of the remaining 17 houses.
The MLA further said that the newly developed layout should be maintained in a clean and hygienic condition and called upon the Gram Panchayat to take responsibility for its upkeep. Assuring continued support, he said more housing projects would be implemented for homeless families and that sites and houses would be provided in a phased manner. He urged beneficiaries currently residing in temporary huts to shift to the new houses, adding that additional houses could be constructed once the existing hutments were cleared.
Addressing the residents, Ponnannaemphasised the importance of education and urged parents to prioritise the future of their children. He called upon the younger generation to lead disciplined lives and reiterated his commitment to serving the people.
Speaking on the occasion, Comprehensive Tribal Development Project Director S. Honnegowda said that 7.50 acres of land had been reserved in Kedamullur Gram Panchayat during 2016-17 following the efforts of Diddalli tribal activists. Since housing had already been provided to some Diddalli activists at Basavanahalli, 43 houses had now been constructed for members of the Yerava, Bettakuruba and Jenu Kuruba communities in the area.
He said the project was initially estimated at Rs 15 crore and commenced during 2019-20. The cost of each house was fixed at ?5 lakh. However, due to revisions in Schedule of Rates (SR) and escalating costs, construction work was halted midway. Additional CSR funding of ?1.60 lakh per house was subsequently secured through the efforts of the MLA.
Honnegowda said that the layout has the capacity to accommodate 129 houses. Of the 60 houses currently sanctioned, 43 have been completed and the remaining 17 are expected to be finished shortly.
He further stated that title deeds are ready for distribution to 500 Scheduled Tribe families. The layout has been developed with modern amenities, including drainage facilities, electricity connections, a piped water supply system, drinking water facilities and a barricaded park.
District Guarantee Scheme Implementation Committee President Teetira Dharmaja Uthappa, committee members P.V. Johnson and Pankaja, KDP member Prashant Uthappa, prominent citizens DechammaKalappa, Jeffrey Uthappa and Ranji Poonacha, Tahsildar Praveen Kumar, Taluk Panchayat Executive Officers Rajesh and Shekhar, Taluk ITDP Officer Tejaraj, engineers Sachin and Raghunandan, along with several others, were present.
As part of World Environment Day observances, saplings were planted in the layout’s park area, adding significance to the programme.
