The poor are suffering in the hut, the officers and ministers are happy in the bungalow… This line fits the reality of ‘Aasra Housing Scheme’ in Ghatampur, Kanpur. Here, 840 flats have been completed at a cost of Rs 35 crore, but due to lack of ‘finishing fund’ of only Rs 1.5 crore for the last 6 years, these houses are turning into ruins. The result is that the poor families who were shown the dream of a pucca roof are still forced to live in huts, while the flats allotted in their names have turned into ruins.
Aaj Tak’s investigation revealed that the construction site now looks like a forest. Tall bushes have grown all around. Tiles, sanitary fittings, water tanks and pipes for the flats are lying in the open, rotting. The stuff which was once supposed to be the beauty of homes has now turned into junk. Electric poles are standing but wires are missing. There are water tanks but no water in the taps. This is the most cruel example of wastage of public tax money.
The result is that the poor families who were shown the dream of a pucca roof are still forced to live in huts, while the flats allotted in their names have turned into ruins. This slowness of the system has forced 840 poor families to live a life of endless waiting and humiliation instead of a permanent roof.
Cost of 35 crores, hurdle of 1.5 crores
The construction of these flats started in the year 2013 under DUDA (District Urban Development Agency). Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam erected the structure of the building, but left the work of road, electricity connection, water fitting and final finishing incomplete. The shocking thing is that while crores of rupees have been spent, the entire scheme is hanging in the balance due to non-release of funds worth only Rs 1.5 crore. Due to the lack of coordination between the Urban Development Ministry and the local administration, those poor people who had dreamed of a house 13 years ago are having to bear the brunt.
Silence of the responsible and pain of the poor
Hundreds of people like Puttan are still spending their days in huts. He says that the flat has been allotted, but there is no electricity, no water and no road to reach there. Disabled Taj Mohammad says that living in the colony is a compulsion, but there is nothing in the name of facilities. There is flooding, there are no roads and being disabled has made everyday life more difficult.
Local people say that despite several applications, no hearing took place. Elderly idiots say that they have been waiting for 13 years to shift from a hut to a permanent house, but now their hopes are also beginning to fade. The pain of women is also no less. The situation becomes worse during the rainy season, darkness, lack of water and electricity are daily problems.
DM had inspected last year
The surprising thing is that in July 2025, Kanpur District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh had conducted the inspection with no fanfare and had assured of an early solution, but the ground situation is still the same. Project Officer (PO) of DUDA says that repeated reminders are being sent for the fund, but approval has not been received yet from the government level.
Now the question is directly to the Urban Development Minister of Uttar Pradesh Arvind Kumar Sharma that when will the necessary Rs 1.5 crore be approved for a permanent roof over the heads of 840 poor families? Who will be responsible for the expense of re-purchasing the goods that have been lying around and got spoiled and will the poor have to bear the brunt of the negligence of the government system, or will this darkness ever be defeated?
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