Bhoomi Pooja for Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojna (VAMBAY) and inauguration of  Business Promotion Cell and Regional Office of BMTPC at Seshadripuram, Bangalore

Bhoomi Pooja for Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojna (VAMBAY) Demonstration Housing Project which is being designed executed by Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) was performed by Shri L. M. Mehta, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation, Government of India, in the proposed site at Laggere, Bangalore on 21^st January, 2004 Wednesday at 12 Noon. Shri Sageer Ahmed, Minister for Housing Government of Karnataka, Shri Bulla Subba Rao, Principal Secretary, Housing, Government of Karnataka, Shri T. N. Gupta, Executive Director, BMTPC and Shri Husman, Ghani I Humnabad, Chairman, Karnataka Slum Clearance Board were the guests of honour on the occasion.

Shri Mehta speaking on the occasion disclosed that, the Union cabinet has given its approval to the Urban Street Vendors Policy which would protect the interest of the urban street vendors. He also appreciated Karnataka’s achievements in the housing sector, where its is leading all the other states in the country. He appreciated the fact that Karnataka has exceeded the target set up by itself for the provision of housing in the current year which is the reason for which Karntaka has been chosen for this first demonstration project. He gave his best wishes to the project and hoped that it would serve as a model project. He also hoped that the pilot will become a model to other similar housing schemes of the State.

Shri Sageer Ahamed in his address appreciated the initiative of BMTPC in providing cost effective low cost housing to urban poor. He thanked Shri Mehta and the Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation, GOI for the interest shown in Karnataka Government Schemes. He also requested Shri Mehta on behalf of Karnataka Govt. that the Urban Development Ministry should also consider releasing sufficient funds for the infrastructure development of this pilot project.

Shri T. N. Gupta speaking on the occasion spoke about the mandate given to BMTPC and briefed about the work done so far.

The Demonstration Housing Project is a unique and first of its kind project in the country. Each dwelling unit having a covered are of 272 sq. ft. has been designed so as to give most efficient space utilisation. A group of eight dwelling units share a common interactive open space, which opens out into the next level of a larger community space. Each unit is to be built for a cost of 60,000 (Rs. 220 per sq. ft.). This project is to be executed using cost effective building materials and technologies.

Shri L. M. Mehta also launched Business Promotion Cell and Regional Office of BMTPC on 21.01.2004 at Karnataka Slum Clearance Board premises, Seshadripuram, Bangalore.

Shri Bulla Subba Rao, Principal Secretary, Housing, Government of Karnataka, Shri T. N. Gupta, Executive Director, BMTPC, Shri Husman, Ghani I Humnabad, Chairman, Karnataka Slum Clearance Board, Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, MLA, Gandhinagar were present on the occasion.

Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council is an apex body in Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation, GOI. Its main objective is to undertake identification of potential technologies with emphasis on utilisation of agricultural and industrial wastes, demonstrate through pilot plants and scale up the proven technologies for commercial production and help in development of appropriate standards and dissemination of technologies to public and private agencies and household sector.