513 slum houses to come up under IHSDP

VELLORE: Vellore Corporation is set to implement the Integrated Housing Scheme and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) after 15 years since the programme was introduced. Over 513 houses have been identified in seven slum areas for the one-year project, which is estimated at `10.93 lakh.Under the programme, each beneficiary is entitled to `1,27,000 in four installments. Each house will have a plinth area of 27.71 sq mt and will have two bedrooms, a kitchen, a washing closet and a bath area. A resolution to this effect will be passed in the next council meet and work is expected to begin next week.Vellore Corporation Commissioner Seeni Ajmal Khan said that Vellore is the last to implement the programme and that too at the last minute as the programme was initiated in 1997 and is slated to end by 2012. He added that if beneficiaries were interested in adding more facilities, then the Corporation would assist them to acquire a housing loan as well.