Journalists to Get House Sites Within a Month: Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy
Hyderabad, May 1:
In a major relief for journalists in Telangana, Revenue, Housing and Information Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy has announced that the long-pending issue of allotment of house sites to journalists will be resolved within a month, raising fresh hopes among media professionals who have been waiting for decades.
At a high-level meeting held at the State Secretariat on Friday, the Minister interacted with representatives of various journalists’ housing societies and assured that the government is committed to providing house sites to all eligible beneficiaries. He stated that the process would be streamlined and brought to a conclusion by June 2, coinciding with Telangana Formation Day.
Government Committed to Fulfilling Promise
The Minister reiterated that the assurance given by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy would be honoured in a transparent and time-bound manner. He emphasized that the government is gathering detailed inputs from all stakeholders to ensure fairness and inclusivity in the allotment process.
Meeting with Housing Societies
Representatives from four major housing societies — Jawaharlal Nehru Housing Society, Jubilee Hills Journalists Housing Society, Deccan Journalists Housing Society, and Telangana Housing Society — participated in the discussions. The Minister reviewed membership data and eligibility criteria in detail.
Officials indicated that, excluding the Jawaharlal Nehru Society, around 2,424 eligible journalists have been identified across the other three societies. Verification of records is currently underway to ensure accuracy before final allotments.
Call for Unified Platform
In a key suggestion, the Minister urged all journalists’ societies to come together and form a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to streamline coordination with the government. He also made it clear that even eligible journalists who are not members of any society would be considered for house site allotment.
He stressed that transparency and cooperation from all stakeholders would be critical to completing the process within the stipulated timeline.
Addressing Long-Pending Issues
Recalling past efforts, the Minister noted that the issue, particularly concerning the Jawaharlal Nehru Housing Society, has remained unresolved for nearly 18 years due to legal disputes. Despite earlier land allocations, the matter could not progress, leaving beneficiaries in uncertainty.
He assured that the present government is taking up the issue on a priority basis and is determined to resolve it permanently.
Allocation in Future City
In a significant development, the Minister revealed that house sites for journalists are likely to be allocated in the upcoming “Future City,” alongside allocations for MLAs and bureaucrats. This move is expected to benefit journalists working in and around Hyderabad.
With the government reportedly preparing a comprehensive plan, a final decision is likely to be taken by June 2, marking a potentially historic milestone for the journalistic community in Telangana.
Special Focus on Jawaharlal Nehru Society
During a separate interaction, representatives of the Jawaharlal Nehru Housing Society highlighted that members had paid ₹2 lakh each nearly 18 years ago. Taking note, the Minister advised them to submit a formal resolution to the government for expedited consideration.
Senior officials, including Media Academy Chairman K. Srinivas Reddy and Special Commissioner G. Mukunda Reddy, along with several representatives from journalists’ housing societies, attended the meeting.
