Ponguleti sets June 2 deadline to resolve journalist housing plots

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Minister for Revenue, Housing, and Information & Public Relations Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has clarified that the State government is committed with honesty and sincerity to allotting house sites to eligible journalists.

He referenced the earlier statements made by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who mentioned that he would take all opinions into account and aim to resolve the issue by June 2.

The Minister on Friday convened a meeting in his office at the Secretariat with representatives from the Jawaharlal Nehru Housing Society, Journalists' Housing Society, Deccan Journalists, and the Telangana Housing Societies.

Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy consulted with the society members about the founding dates of the Hyderabad-based Journalists' Housing Societies, the membership count, eligibility requirements, and other pertinent information.

An initial review indicated that, aside from the Jawaharlal Nehru Housing Society, there are around 2,424 qualifying journalists among the other three societies.

During the meeting, the Minister remarked that resolving challenges would be more achievable if all journalists collaborated. He proposed that all societies unite to establish a Joint Action Committee (JAC). He also stated that house sites would be allocated to eligible journalists who are not members of any journalistic associations and urged everyone to support the allocation process to ensure it is handled without any criticism or doubt.

Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy recalled that the previous administration, the Congress government, was responsible for the earlier allocation of house sites to journalists.

He went on to mention that a pro-people government is now addressing the long-standing housing issue faced by the Jawaharlal Nehru Journalist Housing Society, which had been unresolved for 18 years. Although a meeting was held with journalists’ families at Ravindra Bharathi to formally allocate the land, the matter has regressed due to legal challenges.

The Minister reiterated the government's dedication to improving the welfare of journalists and assured that they would take proactive measures to resolve the long-standing housing plot issue, aiming to conclude it by June 2.

He also highlighted that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is optimistic about the situation and is willing to allocate housing plots in "Future City" not just to MLAs and bureaucrats but also to journalists residing in Hyderabad.

On the occasion, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy had a separate meeting with representatives from the Jawaharlal Nehru Journalist Housing Society, suggesting that the society should disclose the matter, pass a resolution, and present it to the government.

However, the members, noting they had contributed Rs 2 lakh towards housing plots 18 years ago, requested the Minister to prioritise their Society during the allocation process, considering their long-standing commitment.

Media Academy Chairman K. Srinivasa Reddy, Special Commissioner of the department of Information and Public Relations G. Mukunda Reddy, CPRO Malsur, and others participated in the meeting.