Oppn stages walkout in AP Assembly

Raising the issue under Rule 304, M V Mysoora Reddy (Congress) alleged that the welfare scheme had become a money spinning venture for some ruling party functionaries and quoted instances where ineligible persons were given houses and rule of reservation was given a go-by.

Congress floor leader Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, along with his party colleagues, demanded an inquiry by House Committee to ferret out facts and suspension of the process of identifying beneficiaries under the scheme till new policy and guidelines were formulated.

Rejecting the Opposition demand for a House Committee probe, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu assured that the scheme would be kept pending till new guidelines were finalised. He also assured the agitated Opposition members that a thorough inquiry would be done in case of specific instances and action would be taken against the guilty.

Not satisfied with the reply, the Congress members trooped out of the House protesting against `gross misuse of scheme by ruling party leaders and systematic attempt by their henchmen to rob weaker sections of the benefits under the programme’.

The Chief Minister said AP stood first in the country in providing pucca houses to weaker sections. Out of one crore houses built across country so far, the State alone accounted for 35.25 lakh houses. Of them, 15 lakh were constructed during the last four years, Naidu said adding that Rs 874 crore were spent for the scheme last year.

Referring to Congress members’ criticism over misuse of discretionary powers by ruling party MLAs and ministers who are allotted a specific quota of houses, Naidu said the quota system was introduced during the previous Congress regime.

Seeking suggestions from members to ensure fool-proof implementation of the scheme, Naidu asserted that his government would not spare anybody in the event of irregularities.

Earlier, Mysoora Reddy (Congress), citing instances of violations of guidelines, reservation rules and favouritism, said over 1,500 houses were given to Parthasarathy Reddy, who is now a TDP MLA from Kurnool district, in violation of norms. While in Vizianagaram district, 1,600 houses were allotted to a ruling party MLA and 500 houses to a Rajya Sabha member, he alleged.

Similarly, there were also instances of tampering of records to deny the benefits to eligible families belonging to weaker sections, he said.

The Congress member also brought to the notice of the House certain cases where ineligible persons were allotted houses under scheme. A police constable in Nalgonda district was given two houses though he was not eligible for the scheme.

As per the guidelines, only persons belonging to weaker sections in the age group of 21 to 65 years and with an annual income below Rs 11,000 were eligible for allotment of houses.

The special quota for cyclone victims, fishermen and jogins was also being misused by the ruling party for political gains, Reddy alleged and cited an instance where a 70 year old person was given a house in violation of rules.

Replying to the debate, Housing Minister A Prabhakar Reddy admitted that there might have been some lapses in implementation of the scheme but assured appropriate action and remedial measures.

Under the programme, five lakh houses were allotted in rural areas spread over 22 districts during the current year. The Government proposed to review the procedure for selection of beneficiaries after taking into consideration the `field situation’ and the process of formulating new guidelines would be finalised soon, the minister said.