Zilla Panchayat seeks report on Ashraya scheme

Delay in construction of houses resulting in lapse of grants

 
“The officers have displayed laxity in construction of houses under Ashraya scheme. The works have not been completed within the stipulated time frame. Disciplinary action should be recommended against officers who have not achieved the target,” the ZP president alleged in a monthly progress review meeting held here on Friday.

Srinivasan alleged that grants pertaining to as many as 5,475 houses (896 in Mulbagal taluk, 1,745 in Srinivaspur, 883 in Kolar, 1,706 in Malur and 238 in Bangarpet) for the year 2008-09 will lapse and the funds will go back to the government on account of the delay in construction of houses.

However, Deputy Secretary Lakshminarayana gave a new twist to the issue by his reply. He brought to the notice of the president that as many as 2009 houses - 212 in Bangarpet taluk, 500 in Kolar, 34 in Malur, 475 in Mulbagal and 773 in Bangarpet taluks are to be approved by the legislator. “A letter has been addressed to the legislator through Chief Executive Officer on July 31 itself,” he revealed.

The reply prompted the Zilla Panchayat president to question the Deputy Secretary that whether the latter was hinting that the local legislator was at fault in smooth implementation of Ashraya programme.

The issue on hand was made clear with the intervention of the Chief Executive Officer, G V Ranga Rao. “A total of 32,107 houses have been sanctioned out of which work on 21,022 have been completed. As many as 11,000 houses are yet to be constructed,” he clarified and asked the Executive Officers of all Taluk Panchayats to furnish information to the ZP president. Warning action against furnishing wrong information, the CEO said that spot inspection will be conducted in case of such an occasion.

However, not satisfied with the information provided by the officers, the ZP president sought a comprehensive report within fifteen days.

Taken to task

Meanwhile, both the ZP president and the CEO expressed their displeasure over delay on the part of Zilla Panchayat Engineering Department in completing civil works of Social Welfare, Health and other departments. They were, in fact, sceptical about the timely completion of the works.

Following a confusion over construction of the compound wall to the District Health Office, CEO Ranga Rao asked the District Health Officer Dr Ramesh Babu to specify the exact location for construction.

Taking objection to the submission of in-charge officer of District Social Welfare Department that “there is nothing of significance,” the CEO asked him to disclose the release of Rs 1.94 crore for basic amenities in hostels and Rs 7.5 crore for scholarship to students.

The officer, Prahlada Gowda, disclosed that state-level science exhibition has been organised in the City on December 22. Vice-president Naveeda Khanum and others were present in the meeting.