Mangalore: Apathy of officials pushes Mulky Hudco colony into oblivion

Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (EP)

Mangalore, Oct 12: Hudco (housing and urban development corporation) in Mulky, a government body that had been providing houses for the shelterless people at very reasonable prices besides lending money on easy repayment terms, is a name slowly fading into oblivion, and it has only its failures to blame for.

The organization has lost its sheen and the officials do not seem to be concerned about the existence of the organization.

The Hudco colony built in Bellayaru in Padupanambur gram panchayat area near Mulky says the story of inefficiancy and lackadaisical attitude of the Hudco officials.

The organization which had bought six acres of land in Bellayaru twenty years ago had leveled it four years ago converting it into sites. Nearly 100 sites measuring two and a half cents, four cents and five cents were kept for sale here. The organization has also built twenty houses and is selling small houses for Rs 15 lac.

Though there are no complaints regarding the quality of construction, there are complaints regarding the prices.  The area near the Hudco colony is being sold at a price of Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 per cent.  Hudco is selling the sites at much higher prices ranging between Rs 1 lac to Rs 1.5 lac per cent. Though Hudco sites are formed in good roads, with water facility and peaceful environs, the number of people living here is very less. The reason is said to be the lack of interest by the organization.

Hudco, which was giving away sites and houses by lottery has stopped doing it now.  If one goes to its office in Kunjathabail, the officials express their helplessness pointing out at their Bangalore office.  The officials at Bangalore are selling their houses or sites at the time they want for a specified amount.  The buyers are made to dance to their tunes.  As their rates are much above the rates of other builders, nobody depends on them. Their officials also are not in a hurry to sell their houses or sites as a result of which the condition of houses built by them has depleted due to normal wear and tear.

The government organization which was meant to provide shelter for the poor and the needy has lost its significance due to indifferent officials.  The organization, which should have built houses and sold them at lower prices than in the market is selling only sites.

As private developers are competing in the market, Hudco has lost its importance.  In addition to that, the officials that are getting recruited in the organization have no desire to improve the organization.  Their officials in Bangalore are fixing the prices of small sites by sitting in Bangalore.  As the prices in Bangalore are high, they are using the same yard stick to fix the prices elsewhere.

The prices in Bellayuru which is not connected by bus transport, and Hudco colony in Kuthar, Deralakatte, which is growing at a much faster rate, are the same. That would perhaps suffice to sum up the situation.