Telangana Minister Sets Early June Deadline for Resolving Journalist Housing Crisis

Hyderabad — The state government has pledged to move swiftly on resolving a persistent housing problem affecting journalists across Telangana. Revenue, Housing and Information & Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy announced June 2 as the target date for addressing the matter, which has remained unresolved for years.

At a Friday meeting held at the Secretariat, the Minister engaged with representatives from four journalists' housing societies: Jawaharlal Nehru Housing Society, Journalists' Housing Society, Deccan Journalists and Telangana Housing Societies. The discussion centred on reviewing membership details, founding histories and qualification standards for each organization.

Data presented during the meeting indicated that approximately 2,424 journalists met eligibility requirements across three of the societies, excluding the Jawaharlal Nehru Housing Society. The Minister emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring transparency and fairness in the allocation process.

To streamline efforts, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy proposed establishing a Joint Action Committee comprising all stakeholder societies. He stressed that collaborative engagement would facilitate a smoother resolution. The government also plans to extend housing allocations to eligible journalists who remain unaffiliated with any housing society.

The journalist housing crisis has deep roots in state politics. A previous Congress administration had initiated house site allocations, though the process stalled and never reached completion. Members of the Jawaharlal Nehru Housing Society have particularly suffered, with the organization facing delays spanning nearly two decades. Land allocation efforts began earlier but encountered legal obstacles that prolonged the timeline.

The Minister disclosed that the Chief Minister has expressed willingness to consider allocating plots in Future City for journalists, alongside elected representatives and government officials. This potential development could expand housing opportunities beyond traditional society frameworks.

During separate discussions, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy requested that Jawaharlal Nehru Housing Society members formalize their membership details and pass a resolution for government submission. Members responded by highlighting their individual contributions of ₹2 lakh each made approximately 18 years ago, and urged the administration to prioritize their society in the allocation queue.

Media Academy Chairman K. Srinivasa Reddy and Special Commissioner G. Mukunda Reddy were among officials present at the meeting.