Sanction for 8,764 houses cancelled in Ch'nagar

Beneficiaries of Basava Housing Scheme in quandary

Sanction for 8,764 houses in the district, under Basava Housing Scheme, has been cancelled due to inability of the beneficiaries to provide necessary documents and delay in construction works.

The scheme was announced with financial assistance from Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation in 2010-11 itself, but it kicked off only in 2011-12. Each beneficiary gets Rs 1.25 lakh under the scheme. During 2011-12 and 2012-13, 17,353 houses were sanctioned under the scheme for four taluks in the district. Chamarajanagar taluk got 8,644 houses; Gundlupet-2,673; Kollegal-4,586 and Yalandur-1,450. However, 4,656 houses in Chamarajanagar taluk has been cancelled; 1,121 in Gundlupet; 2,418 in Kollegal; and 569 in Yalandur.

Rural families living in huts are considered for the benefit under the scheme, but the beneficiary should have a residential site in his or her name. The beneficiaries are selected by lottery of lots in the presence of the MLA.

Once the sanction letter is issued, the construction work should begin within 15 days and completed in six months. The funds are released in four installments, based on progress of construction.

The progress is monitored by the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation with the help of GPS (Global Positioning System). If any of the conditions are not fulfilled, the scheme can be cancelled by the respective Grama Panchayat. The corporation is also empowered to recover the funds issued to the beneficiaries, following cancellation. However, the GP officials did not act fearing protests by the beneficiaries. So, the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation has cancelled the benefits, based on GPS reports.

Official apathy has also contributed to the confusion and thus the cancellation. They have not properly verified if the beneficiary had a site or not. According to sources, almost 50 per cent of the beneficiaries do not have sites.

Poll Code

In April, due to the poll code of conduct that came into effect in view of the Assembly elections, some sanction letters were withheld. Those who had started construction work, on the basis of their selection by lottery, with a hope that the sanction letter would be issued soon, are now in a fix.

On the whole, in the district, construction of 3,697 houses is completed and 4,892 houses are under different stages of construction.

Allaying fears of the beneficiaries, Chief Planning Officer of Zilla Panchayat K B Prabhuswamy said, talks have been held with the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation and District In-Charge Minister to see to it that all beneficiaries get houses.

He said, all beneficiaries who have sites and those who have laid foundation need not worry.