CPI(M) demands housing, land rights for poor in Visakhapatnam

The CPI(M) has launched a campaign urging the Visakhapatnam administration to accelerate the distribution of housing pattas and plots to economically weaker sections of the city's population. Party officials argue that thousands of families continue to lack secure tenure and permanent housing despite decades of urban development in the port city.

The push comes as housing and land ownership remain contentious issues in Visakhapatnam, where informal settlements and slum populations have expanded alongside rapid industrial and commercial growth. The CPI(M) contends that government schemes aimed at providing housing security have not adequately reached those most in need, leaving many residents in precarious living situations.

Calling for accelerated implementation of existing welfare programmes, the party has demanded that authorities prioritize the issuance of land pattas to beneficiaries on government-identified plots. Officials argue this would provide legal ownership rights and enable residents to access credit and social security benefits tied to property ownership.

The demand reflects broader debates across South India over equitable urban development and the government's role in addressing housing shortages among low-income populations. Similar initiatives in other municipalities have faced implementation challenges, including land availability and bureaucratic delays.