The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Probe ordered into One-Lakh Housing Scheme

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Wednesday, Sep 12, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Probe ordered into One-Lakh Housing Scheme

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The District Collector has ordered a probe into the alleged ‘transaction irregularities’ in the One-Lakh Housing Scheme.

District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish ordered the inquiry following allegations of corrupt transaction by unscrupulous elements, including the real estate mafia.

Muvattupuzha Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) P.K. Nalan would lead the inquiry team and the tahasildars concerned would carry out the probe. A report is expected by the end of September.

There were widespread allegations that houses built under the One-Lakh Housing Scheme were being bought by unscrupulous elements from the beneficiaries, at negligible prices. These houses were later pulled down for building flats or the land where the houses once stood was sold as individual plots, it was being alleged.

The Collector ordered the probe after informal reports suggesting foul play came in from the Muvattupuzha RDO. The Collector said that transacting the houses built under the scheme itself was illegal.

In order to tighten the noose around those involved in illegal and corrupt transactions, the Collector has ordered that henceforth the transfer of registry in the district involving excess land, puramboke land and houses under the One-Lakh Housing Scheme should be carried out only after securing the Collector’s approval.

Transparency of deals in which the transfer of registry has been completed would also be probed.

Allegations of foul play trickled in from Kunnathunadu, Aluva and Kanayannur taluks as well.

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