Probe into housing scam is going on: KCR

Hyderabad, Dec 27 (INN): Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has raised suspicion over the figures pertaining to houses constructed for weaker sections during previous regimes.

Initiating short discussion on weaker section housing, including Rajiv Swagruha, Rajiv Gruhakalpa and Double Bed Room House, in State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said in the united Andhra Pradesh State till 2003, about 17 Lakh 34 thousand and 826 houses were constructed at an estimate cost of Rs 1805.26 Crore.

The United AP records state that between 2004 and 2014, about 24 lakh 91 thousand and 870 houses were constructed for the poor at a cost of Rs 9075 Crore. Under Rajiv Swagruha, at a cost of Rs 1621 Crore about 12089 houses and under Rajiv Gruhakalpa, at a cost of Rs 392 Crore about 37217 houses were constructed. Under GHMC Jurisdiction, under JNURM Scheme, 46519 houses and VAMBAY about 6608 houses were constructed as per the government records. "This would mean by the time Telangana state was formed, in Telangana State region about 43,29,124 houses were constructed for the economically weaker sections in the State. If this be true, there would not have been any family left in the State without any house! Therefore there would not have been any need for construction of any new house for the poor! But the ground realities are different," the Chief Minister said.

"Till date, lakhs of poor are applying to the government for houses. This has amply proved that the houses construction did not happen as per the records and the money spent for the so-called construction of houses for the poor went into the pockets of the corrupt. The housing Scheme, which started as a welfare measure for the people has changed its course and ended up becoming a source of ill-gotten income for the political parties leaders and activists. This was particularly on the increase during 2004 and 2014 in the United AP State if one examines the amount of corruption took place during the same period. The number of houses that were constructed according to the bills passed was not found on the ground. There were umpteen numbers of incidents where people have claimed bills on the construction of houses which were more than the entire household in a village," KCR alleged.

Citing an instance, the Chief Minister said in Manthani Assembly Constituency, where bills for the construction of houses stood at 40 percent more than the actual families! Lo and behold! "These overestimated houses were sanctioned and bills were paid, this is a classic instance of corruption. The then government itself had ordered for an inquiry into the nexus between the politicians and the officials and the inquiry established the irregularities and corruption. A Third party inquiry was also held," he said.

The Chief Minister said between 2004 and 2014, criminal cases were registered against 225 persons for committing irregularities under Indiramma Housing Scheme. Among the accused, there were 122 officials, 133 middlemen and politicians. One ZPTC member, three MPTC members, 14 Sarpanches, three Single window Chairmen were proved to be in the scam as per the then government findings. 1,94,539 ineligible persons found to be allotted houses under the scheme. About Rs 235.90 Crore was paid to about 1,04, 000 persons. As many 512 officials from the Housing Department were dismissed from the service and another 140 were suspended. Of this 122 officials were convicted and about Rs 2.86 Crore was recovered. In order to bring out the corrupt practices took place under the united AP State, the Telangana state government had ordered a CBCID inquiry on July 26, 2014 on the scam which is still going on.

"While the inquiry was on, on the houses constructed under Indiramma Housing Scheme, we have decided not to harm the poor people who have constructed houses under the scheme. Hence we have instructed the District Collectors to conduct a survey and identify the genuine beneficiaries. The revenue officials conducted a survey in the villages and found that there were about 11,900 fake beneficiaries. About 2,46,170 were the genuine beneficiaries. Of this, about 56,059 houses were totally constructed and about 2, 04, 000 houses were in various stages of completion," said the Chief Minister.

KCR said that the State Government had paid Rs. 369.48 Crores of rupees for Indiramma houses since June 2014. After completion of Indiramma houses, Rs. 1,159. 85 crores are to be paid. "Government is ready to pay them. We are presented before this august session the fact that the present Government is paying bills to the houses which are in construction stage and which were sanctioned prior to 2014," he said.