AP showcases success in energy efficiency at housing conclave in Gujarat

Vijayawada Andhra Pradesh Government showcased its success in providing best practices in energy efficiency in housing facilities for the poor at the national urban housing conclave inaugurated by Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri at Rajkot in Gujarat on Friday.

The Ministry of Housing And Urban Affairs is conducting a 3-day conclave to discuss and exhibit on innovative construction practices, affordable housing discourses, roadmap for vision India @2047, capacity building of various stakeholders and rapid & cost effective technologies for housing beneficiaries.

According to officials, the Housing Department in AP has completed construction of 6.20 lakh houses and grounded 18.9 lakhs houses out of the total sanctioned houses of 20.75 lakhs. The department is going to supply four LED bulbs, two LED tube lights and two energy efficient fans per each house in phased manner to 15.6 lakh houses being constructed in the first phase of housing scheme with support of AP State Energy Efficiency Development Corporation Limited (APSEEDCO) through Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), Government of India.

This is expected to save 734 units of energy per house per annum that results in savings of 1145 MU per annum for 15.6 lakh houses by using energy efficient appliances.

Speaking on the occasion, Special Chief Secretary of Housing Ajay Jain said that the AP Government is very keen on providing the best housing facilities to the beneficiaries under the housing scheme by implementing energy efficiency, Indo-Swiss building technologies and other modern technologies including RCC (Reinforced Concrete) pre-cast technology, Shear wall technology and EPS (expanded polystyrene), utilizing composite-steel frame with AAC (autoclaved aerated concrete) block masonry during construction.

AP Government is implementing the housing project in a unique and different way by creating modern villages rather than colonies alone with best infrastructure facilities to enable beneficiaries enhancing quality of life. AP is the only State which has distributed more than 30 lakh free house-sites in 17,005 layouts. The extent of land distributed is 71,811 acres worth Rs.56,000 crore. Besides, the government has spent Rs.3,525 crore for layout development and Rs.32,909 crore for creating modern infrastructure, Jain said.

"Perhaps, no State in the country is providing such layouts with all modern facilities and spending such a huge amount for the benefit of the poor to enhance their living standards. I am very confident that AP will set an example to the entire country by constructing YSR Jagananna colonies by providing the best social and physical infrastructure to the beneficiaries," he said.

The government is providing social infrastructure including secretariats, health centers, veterinary hospitals, schools, colleges, libraries, shopping complexes, parks, community halls, banks, stadiums, religious buildings, dumping yards and burial grounds etc and physical infrastructure like 20 to 60 feet Concrete Cement (CC) roads with median, open and underground drains, water, electrification and internet connection.

"Chief Minister Y.S. JaganMohan Reddy is firm on the right to live with dignity and wants to fulfill the dream of low income groups and poor people to have their own beautiful house. He is strongly determined to make this program a grand success and transform the State as No. 1 in implementing weaker section housing programs in the country," the Special CS said.

The government is also supplying sand free of cost to the tune of 20 MT per beneficiary, supply of materials like cement, steel, doors and others at subsidized prices. Jain received an award from the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs for the best performance in construction activity of the massive housing program. The Union Minister in his remarks appreciated the efforts of the State Government in the construction of urban houses.