Chandrababu hands over 2.5L houses to the beneficiaries

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In one of the largest housing distribution drives in Andhra Pradesh’s history, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday handed over 2,50,893 houses to beneficiaries across the state, marking a significant milestone in the government’s welfare agenda. The flagship event was held at Pudur near Naidupeta in Tirupati district, where the Chief Minister personally participated in housewarming ceremonies alongside beneficiaries.

Of the total houses distributed, 1,00,875 units were constructed under the TIDCO scheme, while the remaining 1,50,018 houses fall under other housing programmes. This marks the second large-scale housewarming initiative since the coalition government assumed office, following an earlier distribution of three lakh houses in November last year.

Addressing a massive public gathering, Chandrababu struck an emotional note, stating that seeing joy on the faces of poor families made his life meaningful. He reiterated that the government’s vision is to ensure that the underprivileged live with dignity in well-planned housing communities, not in slums.

Launching a sharp political attack, he accused the previous Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government of mismanaging systems and depriving the poor, alleging that Rs. 174 crore collected from beneficiaries was misused. He announced that the amount would be refunded to around 82,000 families, restoring financial justice.

Chandrababu announced an ambitious roadmap for housing expansion, stating that another 4.5 lakh houses would be completed by December this year, with phased housewarming events planned in June and September. He revealed that the government has already delivered 5.5 lakh houses in just 21 months, contrasting it with the previous regime’s performance. 

Looking ahead, the government has set a target of constructing 17 lakh houses by 2029, with the broader goal of ensuring that no poor family remains homeless in the state.

At Naidupeta, the Chief Minister inspected G+3 housing complexes equipped with modern amenities, including parks, walking tracks, wide roads, schools, and anganwadi centres. He participated in traditional housewarming rituals across communities, including Hindu and Muslim beneficiaries, underscoring inclusivity. He also directed officials to equip every house with solar panels under the PM Surya Ghar scheme and energy-efficient appliances, aligning the housing programme with sustainability goals.

CM warns against intrusions in AP waters

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has taken a firm stand against the intrusion of fishermen from neighbouring states into Andhra Pradesh’s territorial waters, asserting that such activities will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Addressing a public gathering in Naidupeta during the mass housing distribution programme, the Chief Minister said the livelihoods of local fishermen cannot be compromised and assured full government support to protect their interests.

He announced immediate steps to strengthen coastal surveillance, including the deployment of two sanctioned patrol boats for the Nellore coastline. If required, an additional four boats will be pressed into service to further tighten monitoring. Responsibility for ensuring protection of local fishing communities has been entrusted to the district collectors of Nellore and Tirupati.

Chandrababu emphasised that Andhra Pradesh’s marine resources rightfully belong to its fishermen and made it clear that boats from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would not be allowed to operate in state waters. He also criticised the previous administration for neglecting coastal security infrastructure, alleging that several patrol boats were left defunct.