Mangaluru, (The Hindu): Minister for Urban Development and Housing U.T. Khader on Friday said that around 300 unoccupied houses, built under the Ashraya scheme in Ombattukere area in Ullal, will be brought down and new multi-storey houses will be constructed.

Talking to reporters here, Mr. Khader said the Legislative Committee has given approval for demolition of the houses. “It is proposed to build new residential complexes.”

On the pending legal dispute related the houses, Mr. Khader claimed there was direction by the court to return the amount paid by the beneficiaries.

“Process will be initiated to return the money,” he said. It was in 2002 that these houses were constructed at a cost of 1.2 crore by the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation. Lack of drainage system and other basic facilities led to beneficiaries refusal to occupy the houses.

Mr. Khader said he was proposing to build multi-storey ground plus 14 storey residential complex for the house-less across the State. He said the present system of building ground plus three storey complex would not help in giving houses to beneficiaries who are more than two lakh.

Mr. Khader said as the Minister in-charge for Dakshina Kannada he will strive to involve everybody in development of the district. “I will not play politics on issues related to development.”

Mr. Khader said he will involve senior leaders, builders and other thinkers in development of Dakshina Kannada.

“If there are issues that need to be pushed at the State and Central level, I will certainly do,” he said.