Kerala CM launches construction work of LIFE housing project

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan laid the foundation stone for construction work of a housing complex under LIFE housing mission at Karimadom colony on Saturday.
The CM also handed over the keys of 180 houses completed in nine blocks at Karimadom colony as part of Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP) housing scheme.

Vijayan said that LIFE housing mission aims not just at ensuring houses for the poor but it also envisages educational facilities for students and opportunities of livelihood for their families.

"The government aims to complete housing mission through public participation. The housing project at Karimadom is the first to be inaugurated in the state under LIFE mission and the government would like to congratulate the city corporation,'' said Pinarayi Vijayan

The housing scheme under BSUP was envisaged in 2007. 140 houses in 7 blocks have already been completed under the project at Karimadom. As per the survey, 2347 beneficiaries were identified at Karimadom colony. The project aimed at constructing 560 houses at a rate of 20 houses in 28 blocks.

The revised estimates of housing schemes under BSUP had frog-leaped from lakhs to crores owing to delay in implementation of the scheme.

87 houses will be completed at Karimadom under LIFE housing mission scheme making use of available space in the colony.

Construction of anganwadis, markets, library, study centres and kiosks have been completed. Corporation has already spent Rs 17.5 crores for the scheme at Karimadom. Corporation alone spent Rs 12.13 crores excluding the assistance from state and centre.