The Hindu : Karnataka News : Minister calls for report on delay in housing project

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Karnataka

Minister calls for report on delay in housing project

Staff Correspondent

Funds for the implementation of the scheme was released two years ago

Chitradurga CMC to take over streetlights project from Slum Clearance Board
‘Against the rule, contractors were paid even if borewells did not yield water'

Being a sport: Minister for Revenue and district in-charge G. Karunakara Reddy at the inauguration of the sports hostel in Chitradurga on Tuesday.

Chitradurga: Taking exception to the inordinate delay in constructing houses for the poor under the Centre-sponsored Indira Awas Yojana, Revenue and district in-charge Minister G. Karunakara Reddy has directed all taluk panchayat executive officers (EOs) to submit a detailed report on the status of the project and state the reasons for the delay in implementation.

Chairing a quarterly meeting of the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) here on Tuesday, he directed the executive officers to submit the report within 15 days, after consulting the respective gram panchayat secretaries.

Reviewing the progress of the project being undertaken by the zilla panchayat, an official said that of the targeted 7,838 houses, only 5,772 houses had been constructed. The Minister asked why the target could not achieved despite funds being granted two years ago.

Unsatisfied with the replies, he ordered the EOs to submit the details based upon which a solution would be found.

Earlier, reviewing the progress of the Ganga Kalyan Yojana under the B.R. Ambedkar Development Corporation, M. Chandrappa, Holalkere MLA, suggested that Mr. Reddy order an inquiry into the alleged misuse of funds allocated to the scheme.

The scheme aims to drill borewells for free for farmers belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Discrepancy

He said that as per government norms, contractors could not be paid if borewells did not yield water. “Though the officials admit that many borewells had failed to yield water, the contractors have been paid in full,” he said, and Mr. Reddy agreed to constitute a committee to look into the issue.

Handing over

During the meeting, a resolution was passed to hand over the installation of streetlights to Chitradurga City Municipal Council from the Slum Clearance Board.

The decision was taken when Deputy Commissioner Amlan Aditya Biswas informed Mr. Reddy that for nearly three years, the board had failed to get streetlights installed in slums.

A resolution was also passed to blacklist the contactor who has not completed the project.

Inaugurated

Before chairing the meeting, Mr. Reddy inaugurated the District Sports Hostel, built at a cost of Rs. 1 crore, near the zilla panchayat office here.

G.H. Tippareddy, MLC, ZP chief executive officer Rangegowda and ZP president M. Jayanna were present.

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